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ACT,    DECLARATION, 


TESTIMONY, 


FOR    THE 

t 

WHOLE  OF  OUR  COVENANTED  REFORMATION,  AS  ATTAINED 

TO,  AND  ESTABLISHED  IN,  BRITAIN  AND  IRELAND; 

PARTICULARLY  BETWIXT  THE  YEARS  1638 

AND  1649,  INCLUSIVE. 

AS,  ALSO, 

AGAINST    ALL    THE   STEPS    OF    DEFECTION    FROM   SAID    REFORMATION, 

WHETHER  IN  FORMER  OR  LATER  TIMES,  SINCE  THE  OVERTHROW 

OF  THAT  GLORIOUS  WORK,  DOWN  TO  THIS  PRESENT  DAY: 


BY  THE  REFORMED  PRESBYTERY. 


Psalm  Ix,  4.— Thou  hast  given  a  banner  to  them  that  fear  thee :  that  it  may  be  dis 
played  because  of  the  truth, 

Isaiah  viii,  16.— Bind  up  the  testimony,  seal  the  law  among  my  disciples. 

JuDE,  verse  3. — That  ye  should  earnestly  contend  for  the  faith  which  was  once  delivered 
to  the  saints. 

Revelation  iii,  11.— Behold,  I  come  quickly :  hold  that  fast  which  thou  hast,  that  no 
man  take  thy  crown. 


TO  WHICH  IS  NOW  ADDED 

A  HISTORICAL  AND  DECLARATORY  SUPPLEMENT. 


PHILADELPHIA: 
EUE  &  JONES,  PRINTERS,  106  &  lOS  SOUTH  THIRD  STREET. 

1876. 


Philadelphia. 
We  hereby  certify  that  this  is  a  true  edition  of  the  Orig- 
inal Judicial  Testimony,  emitted  by  the  Reformed  Presby- 
tery at  Ploughlandhead,  Scotland,  1761  ;  together  with  the 
Supplements  adopted  by  the  Reformed  Presbytery  at  this 
date,  June  2d,  1876. 

David  Steele, 
James  Campbell, 
Robert  Clyde,  I 


Committee. 


Robert  Alexander,] 


C  O  N  T  E  IS"  T  S. 

PAGE. 

Introduction 3-7 

PART  I. 

ThQ   Culdees,    (cultores  dei) 8-10 

National  Covenant  ratified  by  civil  authority 11 

Prelacy  introduced  by  Jiimes  VI 12 

National  Govenaut  renewed  1688:  Alexander  Henderson 14-16 

Westminster  Assembly — Solemn  League  of  the  three  kingdoms,  1643  17-18 

Cromwell,  Duke,  Hamilton — Charles  I.  beheaded,  his  son    crowned  19 

Second  Keformation  overthrown — Covenants,  Lex  Rex,  etc.,  burned  22-26 

Marquis  of  Argyle  and  James  Guthrie  beheaded,    1661 Ibid. 

Archbishop  Sharp's  cruelt,y  to  his  covenanted  brethren 27 

Apologetical  Relation,  by  John  Brown,  of  Wamphrey,  burned,  1661  28 

V.vmqMxg^  o^  Dalziel  of  Biiins,  Col.  Wallace,  &c..   Highland  Host..  29-32 

Rutherglen  Declation,  battle  of  Bothwell  bridge 33-34 

Richard  Cameroii,  Donald  Gargill,  Sanquar  Declaration,  1680 35 

Lanerk  Declation  and  others  burned  by  order  of  council 37 

James  Renwick  ordained  in  Holland — Apologetic  Declaration   38-39 

Death  of  Charles  II.,  James  VII.  succeeds — his  Indulgences 39-42 

Informatory  Vindication — Hind  let  loose:  Indulged  ministers 43-45 

Renwick  executed,  Jan.  17th,  1688 — Shields,  Linning  and  Boyd's 

defection 46-48 

Mr.  John  McMallan's  accession  to  the  "  Society  People,"  1706 49 

Reformed  Presbytery's  review  of  Part  I 50-53 

PART   II. 

Prince  of  Orange — Erastian  settlement — testimony  against 55-62 

Act  recissory  left  in  full  force  against  the  Covenants 63-65 

Instances  of  Erastianism — the  king  calling  assemblies,  &c.,  oaths, 

tolerations,  &c 66-89 

Intolerance  by  the  church — Hepburn,  McMillan,  Eiskines,  &c 91-92 

Partiality  in  discipline,  countenancing  error — Professor  Simpson,  &c.  93-97 
Association  with  malignants   by  church  and    state — Irish  Presby- 
terians   98-101 

PART    III. 

Reluctant  testimony  against  Scceders  on  magistracy 102-111 

Reception  and  providential  will  of  God  must  be  distinguished 112-113 

This  distinction  proved  and  largely  illustrated,  our  Covenants,  etc.   114-132 
Perversion  of  Scripture,  as  Rev.  xxvi,  21;  Eccl.  x,  4;  Luke  xx,  25; 

Rom.  xiii,  1-8,  &c 132-141 

(.'orruption  in  worship,  prayer,  causes  of  fasting 142-145 

Treachery  in  covenant,  leaving  out  material  parts 146-150 

Unfaithfulness  in  testimcmy-bearing 151-153 

Sinful  terms  of  communion 154-155 

Prostitution  of  discipline,  Leslie,  Nairn,  Marshall,  &c 156- 

SUPPLEMENT  TO  PART  III. 

Historical  sketch  from  1761  till  1876 161-168 

'•  Secession  Controversy"  with  tin;  Reformed  Presbytery 169 

Union  of  A.  R.  Presbyterian  and  Secession  ministers — U.  1'.  C.  .  170 

Reformed   Dissenting 'Presbytery— iMcCoy   and   Warwick Ibid. 

Disruption  of  Generiil  Synod  in  1833,  East  Synod  of  Ireland 171 

Defections  of  Old  Lights,    Pittsburgh    Bond Ibid. 

Misrepresentations  corrected,    "schisms, "   etc ^ 1 75 

Historical  testimony  a  condition  of  ecclesiastical  fellowship 

Supplement  to    Part  IV 

Formula  of  Forms    of    Communion 

(Queries  put  to  candidates  for   office 


IXTEODU  CTI  0]Sr 


The  Presbytery,  soon  after  their  erection,  being  convinced 
of  the  expediency  and  necessity  of  emitting  a  judicial  testi- 
mony, to  discover  to  the  world  the  principles  upon  which, 
as  a  judicatory  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  they  stood,  in  oppo- 
sition to  the  different,  so  called,  judicatories  in  the  land  ; 
together  with  the  agreeableness  of  these  principles  to  the 
Word  of  God,  the  only  rule  of  faith  and  practice,  and  to  the 
covenanted  constitution  of  the  church  of  Scotland  in  her 
purest  periods ;  did  therefore,  after  a  proposal  for  said  effect, 
agree  in  appointing  one  of  their  number  to  prepare  a  draft  of 
this  kind  to  be  laid  before  them,  who,  after  sundry  delays, 
to  their  grief  of  mind,  at  once  cut  off  their  hopes  of  all  assist- 
ance from  him,  in  that  or  any  other  particular,  by  laying 
himself  obnoxious  to  the  censures  of  the  church  ;  which  the 
presbytery,  in  duty  both  to  him,  to  God,  and  to  his  people, 
were  obliged  to  put  in  execution  against  him,  while  he,  in 
contempt  of  that  ordinance,  and  other  means  used  for  his 
conviction  and  recovery,  obstinately  persists  in  his  impeni- 
tency  and  defection.  And  although  the  presbytery,  few  in 
number,  were  thus  diminished,  yet,  being  still  resolved  to 
prosecute  their  former  design,  they  renewed  their  appoint- 
ment upon  another  brother,  who,  in  consequence  of  his  un- 
dertaking, was  allowed  a  cessation  from  his  other  public 
work,  in  order  to  expedite  the  proposed  draft.  And  now, 
when  nothing  was  expected  that  should  retard  the  finishing 
of  such  a  necessary  work,  the  lamentable  fire  of  division, 
that  had  long  been  smothered,  unhappily  broke  forth  into 
a  violent  flame,  whereby  the  presbytery  was  rent  asunder, 
and  that  brother,  on  whom  the  appointment  was  formerly 
laid,  happening  to  be  of  the  separating  party,  a  second  stop 
was  not  only  put  to  the  publication  of  this  testimony,  but 
the  presbytery,  from  the  absence  of  a  brother  removed  to  a 
distant  part  of  the  world,  together  with  the  paucity  of  their 
number,  were  almost  wholly  discouraged  from  attempting 
again  what  they  had  been  oftener  than  once  disappointed  in. 
But  notwithstanding  of  the  above,  with  many  other  diffi- 
culties which  we  shall  not  at  present  take  notice  of,  the  pres- 
bytery, still  considering,  that,  even  in  their  present  circum- 
stances, when  their  number  is  few  and  despicable,  their 
adversaries  many,  and  such  as  are  in  repute  in  the  world, 
whereby  the  opposition  made  to  them,  and  the  conspiracy 
formed  against  the  covenanted  testimony  of  the  church  of 

[iii] 


[iv] 

Scotland  maintained  hy  them,  must  needs  be  strong;  there 
is  yet  a  gracious  door  of  opportunity  left  open  for  them  to 
attempt,  in  their  judicative  capacity,  the  prosecution  and 
accomplishment  of  the  necessary  work  formerly  proposed  ; 
and  which  they  could  not  but  judge  the  Lord  still  called 
them  unto,  while  after  all  the  above-mentioned  breaches 
made  upon  them,  he  still  continued  to  give  them  a  nail  in 
his  holy  place,  and  a  wall  in  Judah  and  Jerusalem,  Ezra  ix, 
8,  9,  they  therefore  again  laid  their  appointments  upon  some 
others  to  prepare  a  draft  of  An  Act,  Declaration  and  Testimony, 
&c.,  and  which,  under  the  favor  of  Divine  Providence,  has 
at  length  been  finished  and  laid  before  the  presbytery.  We 
only  need  to  observe  further  with  reference  to  this,  that  the 
long  delay  of  what  is  now  agreed  upon  did  not  proceed  from 
2iYiy  design  in  the  presbytery  of  depriving  either  the  people 
of  their  particular  inspection,  or  the  generation,  of  any  benefit 
that  might  be  obtained  by  a  work  of  this  nature,  but  partly 
from  the  fewness  of  their  number,  and  great  extent  of  their 
charge,  and  partly  from  the  great  distance  of  members'  resi- 
dence from  each  other,  Avhereby  they  can  seldom  have  access 
to  meet  altogether  for  expediting  this  or  any  other  work  of 
j)ublic  concern  they  have  in  hand. 

It  is,  therefore,  with  an  eye  to  the  Wonderful  Counselor 
(when  Zion's  faithful  counselors  are  so  few)  for  light  and 
direction  in  the  management  of  this  great  and  imjDortant 
work,  that  the  presbytery  have  resolved  upon  the  publication 
hereof  at  this  time,  for  the  reasons  which  follow  : — 

1.  Because  this  duty  of  bearing  witness  for  truth  and  de- 
claring against  all  error,  and  defection  from  it,  and  transmit- 
ting the  same  uncorrupted  to  posterity,  is  expressly  enjoined 
on  the  church  by  the  Spirit  of  God  in  the  Scriptures  of 
truth.  Psal.  Ixxviii,  5  :  "  For  he  hath  established  a  testimony 
in  Jacob,  and  appointed  a  law  in  Israel,  which  he  commanded 
our  fathers  that  they  should  make  them  known  to  their 
children."  Isaiah  xliii,  10:  "Ye  are  my  witnesses,  saith 
the  Lord."  Maith.x,^2:  "Whosoever,  therefore,  shall  con- 
fess me  before  men,  him  will  I  also  confess  before  my  Father 
who  is  in  heaven."  John  xv,  27  :  "  Ye  also  shall  bear  wit- 
ness."    Acts  i,  8  :  "  And  ye  shall  be  witnesses  unto  me." 

2.  Because,  in  agreeableness  to  the  above  scripture  war- 
rant, it  has  been  the  constant  practice  of  the  church  in  all 
ages,  when  in  such  capacity,  judicially  to  assert  and  declare 
their  approbation  of  tlie  truths  of  the  everlasting  gospel,  and 
attainments  of  the  church,  joined  with  the  condemnation  of 
all  contrary  error,  as  appears  from  their  harmonious  confes- 
sions: and  i)articularly  this  has  been  the  honorable  practice 
of  the  once  famous  church  of  Scotland,  witness  her  excellent 


rv] 

confessions,  covenants,  &c.,  whose  posterity  we  are;  and,, 
therefore,  in  duty  bound  to  homologate,  and  approve  her 
scriptural  form  and  order,  by  a  judicial  asserting  of  her  at- 
tainments, as  saith  the  apostle  Philip,  iii,  16  :  "  ^Nevertheless- 
whereunto  we  have  already  attained,  let  us  walk  by  the  same- 
rule,  let  us  mind  the  same  thing."  Rev.  iii,  3:  "  Remember^ 
therefore,  how  thou  has  received,  and  heard,  and  hold  fast, 
and  repent." 

3.  That,  notwithstanding  many ,  both  ministers  and  private 
christians,  have  been  honored  faithfully  to  publish  their 
testimonies  and  declarations,  and  to  seal  them  with  their 
blood,  in  opposition  to  the  growing  defections  in  the  land, 
being  through  the  tyranny  of  the  times  prevented  from 
acting  in  any  other  capacity :  yet  never,  since  the  national 
overthrow  of  the  glorious  structure  of  reformation,  has  any 
church  judicatory,  constituted  purely  on  the  footing  of  our 
covenanted  establishment,  appeared  in  a  judicial  vindication 
of  our  Redeemer's  interest  and  injured  rights. 

4.  The  unspeakable  loss  sustained  by  the  present  genera- 
tion, through  the  want  of  a  full  and  faithful  declaration  of 
the  covenanted  principles  of  the  church  of  Scotland,  which 
they  in  the  loins  of  their  ancestors  were  so  solemnly  engaged 
to  maintain ;  whereby,  as  ignorance  must  be  increased,  so 
prejudices  are  also  gradually  iDCgotten  in  their  minds  against 
the  truth  in  the  purity  thereof.  And  this,  through  the  many 
mistaken  notions  at  present  prevailing  among  the  different 
contending  parties  of  professors  in  these  nations,  concerning 
the  distinct  ordinances  of  divine  institution,  viz.,  the  min- 
istry and  magistracy,  or  ecclesiastical  and  civil  government ; 
and,  more  especially,  the  presbytery  reckon  themselves,  and 
all  professing  their  allegiance  unto  Christ  and  his  cause,  ob- 
liged to  maintain  the  testimony  of  our  ancestors  for  the 
divine  institution  and  right  constitution  of  civil  government, 
according  to  the  law  of  God,  as  what  they  found  to  be,  and 
still  is,  indispensably  necessary  for  the  outward  defense  and 
preservation  of  righteousness  and  true  religion  ;  and  because 
the  very  foundation  and  ends  of  this  ordinance  have  been 
doctrinally  subverted,  and  the  generation  taught  the  most 
licentious  principles  concerning  it,  by  a  body  of  professed 
witnesses  among  ourselves :  and  this  they  design  to  do,  with- 
out (as  they  are  slanderously  reported  of  by  some)  laying 
aside  themselves,  or  withdrawing  others,  from  the  study  of 
internal  and  habitual  or  practical  holiness. 

5.  To  wipe  off  the  reproach  of  that  odium  cast  upon  the 
presbytery  and  community  belonging  thereto,  by  some  who 
invidiously  call  them  a  headless  mob,  whose  principles  can- 
not be  known,  anti-government  men,  men  of  bloody  prin- 


[vi] 

ciples,  &c.,  than  which  nothing  can  be  more  unjust:  seeing, 
as  a  body  distinct  from  all  others,  they  have  still  stood  upon 
the  footing  of  the  covenanted  establishment,  as  has  been 
frequently  declared  to  the  world,  and  as  the  constitution 
of  the  presbytery  bears;  so  that  they  can  no  more  be  said 
ever  to  have  wanted  a  proper  testimony  exhibiting  their 
principles  to  the  world,  than  the  reformed  church  of  Scotland, 
whereof  they  are  a  part. 

6.  The  present  broken  and  divided  situation  of  the  mem- 
bers of  Christ's  mystical  body,  together  with  the  abounding 
of  error,  seems  necessarily  to  require  it  as  a  proper  mean, 
under  the  divine  blessing,  for  gathering  again  the  scattered 
flock  of  Christ,  the  chief  shepherd,  to  tlie  one  sheepfold,  and 
putting  a  stop  to  the  current  of  prevailing  apostasy  and  de- 
fection. 

For  these  reasons  (with  more  that  might  be  adduced)  the 
presbytery  find  themselves  in  duty  bound,  to  God,  the  pres- 
ent and  succeeding  generations,  to  throw  in  their  small  mite 
of  a  testimony,  against  the  manifold  avowed  backslidings 
and  defections  of  all  degrees  of  men,  both  in  the  former  and 
present  times,  from  the  precious  truths  of  Christ,  and  purity 
of  his  ordinances;  unto  the  maintenance  whereof,  not  only 
they,  but  all  in  these  lands,  are  solemnly  bound  by  covenant 
engagements. 

And,  to  conclude,  let  none  mistake  the  presbytery's  aim 
and  intention,,  in  the  whole  or  any  part  of  the  following  tes- 
timony, as  if  they  minded  nothing  else  but  magistracy,  &c., 
and  that  to  have  civil  government,  and  governors  estab- 
lished, according  to  the  rule  of  God's  word,  was  all  the 
religion  they  intended,  without  regarding  or  opposing  any 
other  of  the  prevailing  evils  and  iniquities  of  the  present 
time.  So  some  are  pleased  to  allege,  as  has  been  hinted 
above ;  but  such  might  do  well  to  consider,  that,  as  the  sover- 
eign and  distinguisliing  goodness  of  God  is  clearly  evidenced, 
in  giving  his  statutes  and  judgments  unto  his  Israel,  in  all 
ages,  while  he  has  not  dealt  so  with  the  other  nations  of  the 
world,  wherein  his  will  is  manifestly  revealed,  determining 
his  people's  duty  in  all  their  regulations;  so  his  glory  fs 
equally  concerned,  that  they  recive,  observe,  keep  pure  and 
entire,  all  the  ordinances  he  hath  appointed  in  his  word. 
The  sinful  prostitution  of  any  of  these,  or  breaking  over  the 
boundaries  which  Jehovah  hath  set,  is  an  evident  contempt 
of  his  sovereign  authority,  and  violation  of  the  moral  law. 
God  requires  of  his  people  an  universal  respect  to  all  his  or- 
dinances and  commandments.  Hence  what  is  designed  by 
them  in  this  undertaking,  is  equally  to  testify  their  adher- 
ence unto,  and  approbation  of  the  doctrine,  Avorship,  discipline 


[vii] 

and  government  of  the  house  of  God ;  and  to  signify  their 
opposition  to,  and  dissatisfaction  with,  all  the  apostatizing, 
backsliding  courses  in  principle  and  practice,  from  that  re- 
formation purity,  both^  in  church  and  state  (which,  as  the 
attainment  of  the  nations  of  Britain  and  Ireland,  was  by 
them  accounted  their  chief  ornament  and  glory),  that  have 
taken  place,  especially  in  this  kingdom,  since  our  woful  de- 
cline commenced :  whereby  the  witnesses  of  Scotland's  cov- 
enanted reformation,  have  been  deprived  of  any  legal  benefit, 
as  well^  since  as  before  the  late  revolution ;  in  which  the  re- 
formation, neither  in  civil  nor  ecclesiastical  constitutions  was 
adopted.     The  intent,  therefore,  of  this  work  is  of  very  great 
importance ;  no  less  being  proposed,  than  the  right  stating 
of  the  testimony  for  the  covenanted  interest  of  Christ  in  thes^ 
lands,  and  judicial  vindication  of  all  the  heads  thereof,  after 
such  a  long  and  universal  apostacy  therefrom  :    a  work  that 
must  needs  be  attended  with  great  difficulties,  and  labor 
under  manifold  disadvantap^es,  as  in  other  respects,  so  parti- 
cularly from  the  consideration   of  the   temper  of  this  age, 
wherein  nothing  almost  is  pleasing,  but  what  is  adapted  to 
the  taste,  not  of  the  best,  but  of  the  greatest :  and  naked 
truth,   without   the   varnish    of   flattery,   and   painting  of 
carnal  policy,  is  generally  treated  with   contempt,  and  ex- 
posed to  ridicule.    And  therefore,  to  remove  as  much  as  pos- 
sible the  prejudice  of  a  critical  age,  who  are  ready  to  reject 
every  thing  as  new,  which  is  in  some  respects  singular,  and 
not  suited  to  their  favorite  sentiments ;  the  presbytery  have 
endeavored,  in  this  work,  to  conform,  as  much  as  possible,  to 
the  faithful  contendings  of  former  honest  contenders  for  the 
truths  and  testimony  of  Jesus,  and  that  both,  as  to  matter 
and  manner:  and  as  the  grounds  of  this  testimony  are  not 
any  needless  scrupulosities,  or  strange  novelties,  but  precious 
and  weighty  truths,  of  the  greatest  value  and  importance, 
and  of  nearest  affinity  unto  the  continued  series  and  succes- 
sion of  the  testimonies  of  the  church  of  Scotland,  in  former 
and  more  ancient  periods  ;  so  it  is  the  presbytery's  ambition, 
that  nothing,  as  to  the  subject  matter  of  what  is  here  con- 
tained, be  looked  upon  as  theirs,  but  may  be  regarded  as  an 
ancient  plea,  wherein  is  nothing  but  what  has  been  main- 
tained and  confirmed  by  authors  of  the  greatest  fame  and 
reputation  in  the  church ;  has  been  asserted  by  the  greatest 
confessors,  and  sealed  by  the  best  blood  of  the  honored  and 
faithful  martyrs  of  Jesus :  so  that  it  may  appear,  the  cause 
and  truths  here  judicially  stated  and  vindicated,  are  not  of 
yesterday's  date,  but  the  same  old  jDaths  and  good  way,  that 
we  are  commanded  to  ask  for,  and  w^alk  in,  though  paths 
that  are  not  now  much  trodden,  a  w^ay   that  is  not  much 
paved  by  the  multitude  of  professors  walking  therein. 


ACT,  DECLAEATION  AND  TESTIMONY. 


PART  I. 

Containing  a  brief  historical  narration  of  the  several  periods  of  the  Testi- 
mony of  the  Church  of  Scotland,  and  of  the  faithful  contendings  of  the 
witnesses  for  Christ,  particularly  from  the  commencement  of  the  Re- 
formation in  these  lands,  down  to  the  late  Revolution;  with  the  Presby- 
terys'  approbation  thereof- 

Ploughlandhead,  June  6, 1761. 
The  which  day  and  place,  the  Reformed  Presbytery  being 
met,  and  taking  into  their  most  serious  consideration,  the 
deplorable  situation  of  the  interest  of  Christ  and  religion  at 
present,  in  these  sinning  lands  wherein  so  few  are  asking  for 
the  old  path,  saying.  Where  is  the  good  way,  that  we  may 
walk  therein  ?  but,  on  the  contrary,  an  avowed  apostasy  and 
backsliding  from  the  right  Avays  of  the  Lord,  is  by  the 
generality  carried  on,  with  a  secret  undermining  of  reforma- 
tion interests,  by  some,  under  more  specious  pretenses ;  and, 
further,  considering  the  general  deluge  of  error  and  heresy, 
that  has  overrun  these  lands,  and  the  swarm  of  erroneous 
heretics  that  has  overspread  the  same,  making  very  impious 
attacks  upon  the  most  part  of  revealed  religion,  who,  not- 
withstanding, have  found  such  shelter  under  the  wings  of  a 
Laodicean  church,  and  almost  boundless  state  toleration,  that 
they  walk  on  without  fear  in  the  foresaid  broad  way  of  sin 
and  error.  And,  moreover,  all  kinds  of  sin  and  wickedness 
so  universally  abound  and  pass,  without  any  suitable  check, 
that  he  who  departs  from  iniquity  maketh  himself  a  prey ; 
together  with  the  woful  insensibility,  and  deep  security  of 
all,  under  our  spiritual  plagues  and  impending  temporal 
strokes.  And  yet,  while  the  land  so  evidently  groans  under 
its  inhabitants,  very  few  either  acknowledge  themselves 
guilty,  or  turn  from  the  evil  of  their  ways,  "say ing.  What 
have  we  done  ?  Also,  considering  the  horrid  breach  and 
contempt  of  sacred  vows  unto  the  Most  High,  the  great 
effusion  of  the  saints'  blood,  shed  in  our  late  persecution 
under  prelacy  (which  is  yet  to  be  found  in  our  skirts),  and 
the  faithful  testimony  they  therewith  sealed,  remains  buried 
under  the  gravestones,  both  of  ecclesiastical  and  civil  deeds 
of  constitution,  unto  this  day.  So  that  we  may  rather 
admire,  that  the  Lord  hath  not  made  such  inquisition  for 
blood,  as  to  make  our  land  an  aceldama,  than  that  we  are  yet 

[8] 


[9] 

under  a  dispensation  of  divine  forbearance.  All  which  is 
followed  with  a  deep  oblivion  of  most  or  all  of  the  memorable 
instances  of  the  Lord's  goodness,  mercy  and  power,  mani- 
fested unto  his  church,  in  these  lands;  the  remembrance 
whereof  ought  still  to  be  retained,  and  the  same  acknow- 
ledged with  thanfulness,  by  all  the  children  of  Zion,  unto 
the  latest  ages. 

Wherefore  the  presbytery,  amidst  their  many  difficulties, 
partly  noticed  in  the  introduction,  as  a  court  of  the  true 
Presbyterian  Covenanted  Church  of  Christ  in  Scotland,  con- 
stituted in  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the  alone 
King  and  Head  of  his  church,  judicially  to  commemorate: 
Likeas,  they  did,  and  hereby  do  acknowledge,  with  the 
utmost  gratitude,  the  great  goodness  and  tender  mercy  of  our 
God  unto  our  church  and  land  ;  who,  in  consequence  of  that 
early  new  covenant  grant,  made  by  Jehovah  to  his  eternal 
Son,  to  give  him  the  heathen  for  his  inheritance  and  the 
uttermost  parts  of  the  earth  for  his  possession,  caused  the 
day  spring  from  on  high  to  visit  us.  Our  glorious  Redeemer, 
that  bright  and  morning  Star,  having,  by  his  almighty 
power,  shaken  off  the  fetters  of  death,  wherewith  it  was  im- 
possible that  he  could  be  held,  and  as  a  victorious  conqueror, 
leading  captivity  captive,  ascended  into  the  highest  heavens, 
and  there  sat  down  on  the  right  hand  of  God,  did  very  soon 
discover  his  cordial  acceptance  of,  and  superlative  delight  in, 
possessing  his  Father's  extensive  grant,  by  stretching  forth 
the  lines  of  his  large  and  great  dominion  unto  the  distant 
nations  of  the  world,  involved  in  the  thickest  darkness  of 
stupidity  and  idolatry ;  and,  in  a  particular  manner,  did,  as 
the  glorious  sun  of  righteousness,  graciously  illuminate  this 
remote  and  barbarous  isle,  causing*  the  refulgent  beams  of 
gospel  light  to  dissipate  the  gross  darkness  that  covered  the 
people,  which  prevailed  so  far  (according  to  the  very  authen- 
tic historical  accounts),  that,  about  the  beginning  of  the 
third  century,  those  of  the  highest  dignity  in  the  nation, 
voluntarily  enlisted  themselves  under  the  displayed  banner 
of  Christ,  the  captain  of  salvation,  and  became  nursing 
fathers  and  nursing  mothers  to  his  church,  employing  their 
power  to  root  out  Pagan  idolatry,  and  bring  their  subjects 
under  the  peaceful  scepter  of  the  Son  of  God.  This  plant 
of  Christianity  having  once  taken  root,  did,  under  all  the 
vicissitudes  of  divine  providence,  grow  up  unto  a  spreading 
vine,  which  filled  the  land,  and  continued  to  flourish,  without 
being  pressed  down  with  the  intolerable  burden  of  prelatical 
or  popish  superstition:  the  truths  and  institutions  of  the 
gospel  being  faithfully  propagated  and  maintained  in  their 


[10] 

native  purity  and  simplicity  by  the  Culdees  some  hundreds 
of  years  before  ever  that  man  of  sin  and  son  of  perdition,  by 
the  door  of  prelacy,  stepped  into  the  temple  of  God  in  Scot- 
land. Those  early  witnesses  for  Christ,  having  no  other 
ambitition  but  that  of  advancing  piety  and  the  doctrines 
which  were  according  to  godliness,  were  therefore  called  Cul- 
dees^ that  is,  Cultores  Dei^  or  worshipers  of  God.  The  doctrine, 
worship,  discipline,  and  government  of  the  house  of  God  being 
thus  established,  continued  for  many  years,  taught  and  exer- 
cised, according  to  divine  institution.  But,  in  process  of 
time,  the  Church  of  Christ  in  this  land  came  to  be  assaulted 
with  the  corruptions  of  the  see  of  Rome,  by  means  of  Palla- 
dius,  the  Pope's  missionary  to  the  Britons,  who  made  the 
first  attempt  to  bring  our  fathers'  necks  under  the  anti- 
christian  yoke,  which  gradually  increasing  by  little  and  little, 
clouded  the  sunshine  of  prosperity  the  church  then  enjoyed, 
till  about  the  eleventh  century,  when  the  Romish  fraternity 
fully  established  themselves,  by  usurping  a  diocesan  su- 
premacy over  the  house  of  God ;  after  which  a  midnight 
darkness  of  popish  error  and  idolatry  overwhelmed  the 
nation,  for  near  the  space  of  ^yq  hundred  years.  Yet,  even 
in  this  very  dark  period,  the  Lord  left  not  himself  altogether 
without  some  to  bear  witness  for  him,  whose  steadfastness 
in  defense  of  the  truth,  even  unto  death,  vanquished  the 
inhuman  cruelty  of  their  savage  enemies.  The  honor  of  the 
church's  exalted  Head  being  still  engaged  to  maintain  the 
right  of  conquest  he  had  obtained  over  this  remote  isle,  and 
raise  up  his  work  out  of  the  ruins,  under  which  it  had  lain 
so  long  buried  ;  he,  about  the  beginning  of  the  15th  century, 
animated  some  valiant  champions  (Messrs.  Hamilton,  Wis- 
hart  and  others)  with  a  spirit  of  truth  and  heroic  courage, 
to  contend  against  the  abominations  of  the  Babylonish 
wdiore,  whose  labors,  by  the  blessing  of  Heaven,  were  rendered 
successful,  to  open  the  eyes  of  some  to  see,  and  engage  many 
others  to  inquire  after,  and  espouse  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus. 
These,  not  regarding  the  fear  of  man,  nor  the  cruelty  of  their 
enemies,  but  as  good  soldiers  of  Jesus  Christ,  enduring  hard- 
ness, chose,  rather  than  desert  their  Master's  cause,  to  ofler 
their  bodies  to  be  devoured  by  the  tormenting  flames,  no 
more  merciless  than  their  hellish  persecutors ;  while  in  that 
fiery  chariot,  through  the  serial  regions,  their  souls  ascended 
to  the  celestial  country.  And  herein,  also,  did  God  frustrate 
the  expectation  of  that  monster  of  iniquity.  Cardinal  Beaton 
(whose  memory  let  it  forever  perish),  and  his  wicked  accom- 
plices, and  turned  their  counsel  into  foolishness,  who,  by  the 
death  of  a  few  zealous  contenders  for  the  faith,  intended  the 


[11] 

total  suppression  of  Christ's  truth  for  ever ;  but  God  having 
purposed  the  contrary,  made  the  effusion  of  their  blood  the 
occasion  of  rousing  many  from  the  deep  sleep  of  gross  igno- 
rance, by  putting  them  to  search  into  the  truth  of  those 
doctrines,  which  these  martyrs  sealed  with  their  blood  ;  so 
that  Jesus  Christ,  the  only  true  light  in  the  orb  of  the 
gospel,  began  again  to  shine  forth  in  this  realm. 

Upon  this  begun  revival  of  reformation,  the  glory  of  the 
Lord  went  remarkably  before  his  people,  and  the  God  of 
Israel  was  their  reward,  uniting  the  hearts,  and  strength- 
•ening  the  hands,  both  of  noble  and  ignoble,  to  a  vigorous 
and  active  espousing  of  his  gospel,  and  concerns  of  his  glory, 
in  opposition  to  the  tyranny  of  the  lordly  bishops,  perse- 
cuting rage,  and  masked  treachery  of  the  two  bloody  Marys, 
the  mother  and  daughter,  who  then  successively  governed, 
or  rather  tyrannized,  in  Scotland.  Their  number,  as  well 
as  their  zealous  spirit,  still  increasing,  they,  for  the  more 
effectual  management  of  this  noble  enterprise,  entered  into 
covenants  to  advance  that  begun  work  of  reformation,  and 
to  defend  the  same  and  one  another  in  the  maintenance 
thereof,  against  all  opposition  whatsoever.  Several  such 
covenants  our  early  reformers  solemnly  entered  into  at  Edin- 
burgh, Perth  and  Leith,  in  the  years  1557,  '59,  '60  and  '62. 
In  1560,  the  Confession  of  the  Faith^  and  doctrine  believed  and 
professed  by  the  Protestants  within  the  realm  of  Scotland^  was 
compiled  and  civilly  ratified,  or  allowed  of,  in  free  and  open 
parliament,  afterward  sworn  to  in  the  National  Covenant 
ayinis  1580,  1581  and  1590.  At  the  same  time,  some  other 
acts  were  passed,  in  favor  of  reformation ;  one  against  the 
mass  and  abuse  of  the  sacraments  ;  another,  abolishing  the 
Pope's  jurisdiction  and  authority  with  this  realm,  &c.  In 
the  above  mentioned  year  1560,  the  first  book  of  policy 
and  discipline,  containing  the  form  and  order  of  presbyterial 
church  government,  was  composed,  approve n  and  subscribed 
by  the  ministry,  and  a  great  part  of  the  nobility.  Thus,  by 
the  wisdom  and  power  of  God,  who  takes  the  wise  in  their 
own  craftiness,  by  means,  especially,  of  the  indefatigable 
labors  of  the  renowned  Mr.  Knox  (whose  memory  is  still 
savory  in  the  churches),  was  this  surprising  work  of  refor- 
mation advanced,  until  it  obtained  the  authority  of  a 
law ;  whereby,  was  not  only  the  presby terian  protestant  inter- 
est ratified,  but  anti-christian  supremacy  and  superstition 
abolished. 

The  church,  gradually  increasing  in  beauty  and  perfection, 
did,  with  much  painfulness  and  faithful  diligence,  labor  after 
a  more  full  establishment  of  the  house  of  God,  in  all  its  privi- 
leges, until,  by  perfecting   the   second  book  of  discipline, 


[12] 

they  completed  the  exact  model  of  presbytery,  which,  though 
they  had  enjoyed  national  assemblies  for  a  considerable  time^ 
yet  was  not  brought  to  such  an  entire  conformity  to  the  divine 
pattern,  nor  so  generally  acc^uiesced  in  until  now,  that  it  was 
unanimously  approven  by  the  assembly  1590,  and  particu- 
larly enjoined  to  be  subscribed  by  all  who  did  bear  office- 
in  the  church ;  and,  at  last,  they  prevailed  to  get  it  publicly 
voted  and  approven  in  parliament,  June,  1592 ;  and  also  at 
the  same  time,  obtained  by  act  of  parliament,  the  ratification 
of  all  the  privileges  and  liberties  of  the  church,  in  her 
assemblies,  synods,  presbyteries,  &c. 

And  here  we  may  observe,  that  while  this  church  and  na- 
tion contended  for  the  obtaining  of  a  legal  establishment  of 
the  ecclesiastical  polity,  they  were  no  less  concerned  to  have 
that  other  distinct  ordinance  of  God,  civil  magistracy,  unal 
terably  settled,  in  agreeableness  to  the  rule  of  God's  word. 
This  appears,  not  only  by  their  earnest  contendings  against 
the  abuse  of  that  ordinance  among  them ;  but  also,  by  the 
public  acts  of  parliament,  obliging  prince  and  people  to  be 
of  one  perfect  religion,  and  wholly  incapacitating  all  persons, 
for  bearing  any  office,  supreme  or  subordinate,  who  refused, 
by  their  solemn  oath,  to  approve  of,  and,  to  the  utmost  of 
their  power,  engage  to  defend  the  true  religion,  as  contained 
in  the  word  of  God,  and  confession  of  faith  founded  thereon, 
then  believed,  and  publicly  professed  within  the  realm,  rati- 
fied and  generally  sworn  to  in  the  ]^ational  Covenant, 
during  the  whole  course  of  their  lives,  in  all  their  civil 
administrations.     See  Acts  Pari.  Ist^  James  VI,  1567. 

Thus  the  hand  of  God  was  remarkably  seen,  and  his  power- 
ful arm  evidently  revealed,  in  delivering  this  nation  both 
from  Pagan  darkness,  and  Popish  idolatry,  the  memory 
whereof  ought  not  to  be  lost,  but  thankfully  acknowledged, 
to  the  honor  of  God's  great  name,  by  all  such  as  favor  the 
dust  of  Zion,  for  her  sake,  and  long  to  see  her  breaches,  now 
wide  as  the  sea,  repaired. 

But  to  proceed :  The  church's  grand  foe  envying  her 
growing  prosperity,  did  soon  disturb  her  peace,  by  insinuat- 
ing himself  upon  those  of  superior  dignity,  who  were  in- 
trui-ted  with  the  administration  of  civil  aftairs,both  supreme 
and  subordinate,  blowing  up  into  a  flame  that  inbred  and 
rooted  enmity,  winch  they  still  retained,  at  the  simplicity, 
strictness  and  scriptural  purity  of  the  reformation  in  Scot- 
land. The  then  supreme  civil  ruler.  King  James  VI,  formed 
a  scheme  for  ruining  the  church  of  Scotland,  and  stripping 
her  of  those  comely  and  beautiful  ornaments  of  reformation 
purity,    in  doctrine,  worship,   discipline   and   government. 


i^ 


[13] 

Avhich  she  had  now  put  on,  by  introducing  episcopacy,  and 
establishing  bishops.  ^' This  he  did  for  no  other  reason, 
*'  (says  one),  but  because  he  believed  them  to  be  useful  and 
""pliable  instruments  for  turning  a  limited  monarchy  into 
*' absolute  dominion,  and  subjects  into  slaves;  that  which, 
*'  of  all  other  things,  he  affected  most :  "  And  for  this  pur- 
pose, (after  several  subtle  and  cunningly  devised  steps,  pre- 
viously taken,  with  design  to  do,  by  degrees,  what  could  not 
be  done  at  once,)  he  makes  an  open  attack  upon  the  general 
assembly,  robbing  them  of  their  power  and  liberty  to  meet, 
judge  and  determine,  in  all  ecclesiastical  concerns,  (well 
knowing,  that  so  long  as  assemblies  might  convene  in 
freedom,  he  would  never  get  the  estate  of  bishops  established 
in  Scotland),  and  imprisoning  and  banishing  many  faithful 
ministers,  members  of  the  general  assembly,  who  opposed 
him,  testified  and  protested  against  his  wicked  invasion,  and 
sacreligious  robbery  of  the  church's  rights  and  privileges. 
And,  fiaving  at  last  obtained  the  supremacy  and  headship 
■over  the  church,  which  was  granted  him  by  an  impious  act 
of  a  pretended  parliament,  of  his  own  stamp,  called  by  him 
for  that  purpose,  proceeded  with  his  design,  until  he  had 
again  established  prelacy,  and  razed  presbytery  almost ^  to 
the  very  foundations,  notwithstanding  all  the  opposition 
made  to  it  by  the  faithful  in  the  land,  both  ministers  and 
people. 

Thus,  after  several  former  attempts  to  this  effect,  was 
■episcopacy  again  established,  and  prelates  lording  over  God's 
heritage  advanced,  imposing  their  Popish  ceremonies,  which 
in  that  pretended  assembly  convened  at  Perth,  anno  1618, 
i\^ere  enacted,  and  afterwards  ratified  in  a  subsequent  parlia- 
ment, in  the  year  1621.  And  as  the  father  had  thus  violated 
his  solemn  professions,  declarations  and  engagements,  to 
maintain  the  covenanted  interest ;  so  likewise,  upon  the  ac- 
•cession  of  the  son  to  the  throne,  there  was  no  amendment 
nor  redress  had :  but  he  followed  the  same  iniquitous  course, 
walking  in  the  way  of  his  father,  and  in  the  sin  wherewith 
he  made  Israel  to  sin.  And  further,  obtruded  upon  the 
church  a  service  book,  a  book  of  popish  and  prelatical  canons, 
which  was  followed  with  a  violent  prosecution  of  the  faithful 
contenders  for  the  former  laudable  constitution  of  the  church, 
carried  on  by  that  monstrous  Erastian  high-commission  court, 
patched  up  of  statesmen  and  clergymen:  and  hereby  was 
the  church  again  brought  under  the  yoke  of  anti-christian 
prelacy,  and  tyrannical  supremacy  ;  which  lese-majesty  to 
Zion's  King  was  also  ratified  with  the  sanction  of  civil  author- 
ity.    To  this  yoke,  oppressing  Christ's  loyal  subjects,  many 


[14] 

of  his  professed  servants  submitted  their  necks,  and,  Issachar- 
like,  became  servants  to  tribute  for  a  considerable  time. 

But  when  the  Lord's  set  time  to  favor  Zion  came,  he  made 
the  long  despised  dust  thereof  again  to  be  more  pleasant  and 
precious  than  ever  unto  his  servants  and  people,  and  the  long, 
night  season  and  thick  clouds  of  adversity,  under  which  his 
church  labored,  amidst  some  day-sky,  and  sun-blinks  of 
prosperity,  she  at  times  enjoyed,  to  issue  in  the  dawning  of  a 
day  of  clearer  light,  wherein  the  Glorious  Sun  of  Righteousness 
shone  in  his  meridian  splendor,  with  greater  brightness,  both 
in  this  and  the  neighboring  nations,  than  at  its  first  arising 
therein,  in  a  gospel  dispensation  ;  whose  benign  influences 
caused  the  small  grain  of  good  seed,  sown  by  the  skill  of  the 
Great  Husbandman,  to  grow  up  to  a  fruitful  plant,  the  ten- 
der twig  to  spread  itself  into  a  noble  vine,  and  the  little 
cloud,  like  a  man's  hand,  to  cover  the  whole  hemisphere  of 
the  visible  church  of  Scotland,  which  long  ago,  as  a  church 
and  nation,  had  enlisted  themselves  under  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  as  their  Royal  Prince;  whose  peaceful  and  righteous 
scepter  being  now  also  extended  to  England  and  Ireland,  they 
soon  submitted  themselves  thereto,  in  a  religious  association 
and  union  with  Scotland  in  covenant  engagements,  for  re- 
formation from  prelacy,  as  well  as  popery,  which  they  have 
never  hitherto  yielded  to. 

Upon  this  gracious  return  of  divine  favor,  and  discovery 
of  almighty  power  manifested  against  the  mighty  agents 
for  prelatical  superstition,  both  in  church  and  state,  when, 
from  the  paucity  of  those  who  appeared  in  favor  of  truth ^ 
in  the  year  1(537,  small  opposition  unto  its  enemies  could  be 
expected ;  yet  their  magnanimity  in  witness-bearing  was  so 
followed  by  manifestations  of  the  divine  countenance  and 
favor,  that  both  their  number  and  courage  daily  increased. 
The  national  covenant  was  again,  after  mature  deliberation,, 
anent  both  the  lawfulness,  expediency,  and  seasonableness 
thereof,  with  great  solemnity  renewed  in  3Iarch^  1638,  with 
the  general  concurrence  of  the  ministry,  noblemen,  gentlemen 
and  others,  humbling  themselves  before  the  Lord  for  their 
former  defections  and  breach  of  covenant ;  though,  at  the 
same  time,  the  court  faction,  and  many  temporising  ministers, 
continued  in  their  opposition,  but  which  was  indeed  too 
weak  to  make  resistance  unto  the  cause  of  God,  and  force  of 
truth  carried  home  with  suitable  conviction  upon  the  con- 
science. 

The  covenant  being  first  renewed  at  Edinburgh,  they  pro- 
vided next,  that  it  should  also  be  renewed  through  the  king- 
dom ;  and  for  this  purpose,  copies  thereof  were  sent  with  all 


[15] 

convenient  speed  to  the  several  presbyteries,  together  with 
suitable  exhortations,  and  instructions  for  renewing  of  the 
same  in  every  parish  of  their  bounds ;  and  by  this  means  it 
came  to  pass,  through  the  good  hand  of  their  God  upon  them, 
that  in  a  little  time,  almost  every  parish  through  Scotland, 
did,  with  much  solemnity,  cheerfulness  and  alacrity,  renew 
the  same,  and  publicly  with  uplifted  hand  avouch  the  Lord 
to  be  their  God.  And  as  this  solemn  action  was  everywhere 
accompanied  with  remarkable  evidences  of  divine  power  and 
presence  in  a  plentiful  effusion  of  a  spirit  of  grace  and  sup- 
plication ;  so  the  joy  of  the  Lord  herein  became  their  strength, 
and  greatly  increased  the  faith  and  hopes  of  all  the  church's 
real  friends,  that  as  the  Lord  had  begun,  so  he  would  also 
make  an  end,  and  carry  on  his  work  to  perfection,  amid 
the  terrible  threatenings  both  of  king  and  court ;  his  majesty 
being  highly  displeased  that  his  authority  was  contemned, 
and  no  concurrence  of  his  royal  pleasure  sought  in  the  renova- 
tion of  the  covenant :  but  their  righteousness  in  this  partic- 
ular was  brought  forth  as  the  light,  when  the  legality  of  this 
and  their  other  proceedings  was  afterward  attested  to  the 
king  by  the  ablest  lawyers  in  the  kingdom. 

The  zealous  contenders  for  the  church's  liberties,  by  sup- 
plications, reasonings,  and  proposed  articles,  for  enjoying 
what  they  much  longed  for,  at  last  obtained,  before  the  fore- 
said year  1638  expired,  a  lawful  and  free  general  assembly, 
(constituted  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the  alone 
King  and  Head  of  his  church)  consisting  of  able  members, 
both  ministers  and  elders,  who  would  not  suffer  an  infringe- 
ment upon  their  regular  manner  of  procedure,  or  right  to  act 
as  unlimited  members  of  a  free  court  of  Christ,  nothwith- 
standing  the  constant  attacks  made  upon  their  freedom  by 
the  king's  commissioner,  and  protestations  by  him  taken 
against  their  regular  procedure,  which  issued  in  his  Erastian 
declaration  of  the  king's  prerogative,  as  supreme  judge  in  all 
causes,  ecclesiastical  as  well  as  civil,  and  renewing  all  his 
former  protestations  in  his  royal  master's  name  ;  further  pro- 
testing in  his  own  name,  and  in  the  name  of  the  lords  of  the 
clergy,  that  no  act  passed  by  them  should  imply  his  consent, 
or  be  accounted  lawful,  or  of  force  to  bind  any  of  the  sub- 
jects ;  and,  then  in  his  majesty's  name  dissolving  the  assem- 
bly, discharging  their  proceeding  any  further,  and  so  went 
oft*.  But  the  assembly,  judging  it  better  to  obey  God  than 
man  ;  and  to  incur  the  displeasure  of  an  earthly  king,  to  be 
of  far  less  consequence  than  to  oftend  the  Prince  of  the  kings 
of  the  earth,  entered  a  protestation  against  the  lord  commis- 
sioner's departure  without  any  just  cause,  and  in  behalf  of  the 


[16] 

intrinsic  power  and  liberty  of  the  church  ;  also  assigning  the 
reasons  why  they  coujd  not  dissolve  the  assembly  till  such 
time  as  they  had  gone  through  that  work  depending  upon 
them.  This  was  given  in  to  the  clerk  by  Lord  Rothes,  and 
part  of  it  read  before  liis  grace  left  the  house,  and  instruments 
taken  thereupon.  Then,  after  several  moving  and  pathetic 
speeches  delivered  on  that  occasion,  for  the  encouragement 
of  the  brethren  to  abide  by  their  duty,  by  the  moderator, 
Mr.  Alexander  Henderson,  and  others,  ministers  and  elders, 
exhorting  them  to  shew  themselves  as  zealous  for  Christ 
their  Lord  and  Master,  in  liis  interests,  as  he  had  shewed 
himself  zealous  for  his  master;  they  unanimously  agreed 
that  they  should  continue  and  abide  by  their  work  until 
they  had  concluded  all  things  needful,  and  that  on  all  haz- 
zards.  And  so  they  proceeded  to  the  examination  of  that 
complaint  against  the  bishops,  who,  on  account  of  their 
tyranny,  superstition,  and  teaching  of  Popish,  Arminian,  and 
Pelagian  errors,  were  all  laid  under  the  sentence  of  deposi- 
tion ;  and  many  of  them,  for  their  personal  profaneness, 
wickedness  and  debauchery  proven  against  them,  together 
with  their  contumacy,  were  also  excommunicated  with  the 
greater  excommunication,  for  the  destruction  of  the  flesh, 
that  the  spirit  might  be  saved  in  the  day  of  the  Lord  Jesus. 
They  gave  their  approbation  of  the  national  covenant ;  and 
prelacy,  with  the  five  articles  of  Perth,  were  found  and  de- 
clared to  be  abjured  by  it,  together  with  the  civil  places  and 
power  of  kirkmen,  there  sitting  on  the  bench  as  justices  of 
the  peace,  sitting  in  council,  and  voting  in  parliament.  Sub- 
scription of  the  confession  of  faith,  or  covenant,  was  also  en- 
joined, presbyterian  church  government  justified  and  ap- 
proven,  and  an  act  made  for  holding  yearly  general  assem- 
blies ;  with  many  other  acts  and  constitutions  tending  to  the 
advancement  of  that  begun  reformation,  and  purging  the 
church  of  Christ  of  those  sinful  innovations,  crept  into  it, 
which  may  be  seen  more  at  large  in  the  printed  acts  of  that 
assembly.  The  lawful  and  just  freed<mi  which  the  church 
now  claimed  and  stood  upon,  so  highly  incensed  the  court, 
because  their  Erastian  encroachments  were  not  yielded  to, 
that  all  warlike  preparations  were  speedily  made  for  having 
them  again  reduced,  by  force  of  arms,  to  their  former  slavery. 
Yet,  what  evil  seemed  intended  against  the  church  by  the 
the  king,  with  his  po})ish  and  prelatical  accomplices,  was  by 
her  exalted  King  and  Head  happily  prevented,  and  they  ob- 
liged, at  least,  to  feign  subjection,  and  yield  to  a  pacification. 
In  which  it  was  concluded,  that  an  assembly  be  holden  at 
Edinburgh,  August  6th,  1639,  and  the  parliament  of  the  20th 


[17] 

of  the  same  month,  that  same  year,  for  healing  the  wide 
breaches,  and  redressing  the  grievances  both  of  church  and 
state  ;  that  what  was  determined  by  the  assembly,  might  be 
ratified  by  the  parliament.  In  this  assembly,  the  covenant 
was  ratified  and  subscribed  by  the  commissioner,  and  an  in- 
junction laid  upon  the  body  of  the  kingdom  for  subscribing 
the  same,  with  an  explication,  wherein  the  five  articles  of 
Perth,  government  of  bishops,  the  civil  places  and  power  of 
kirkmen  were  expressly  condemned.  Hereby  the  hopes  of  the 
prelates  again  being  in  a  great  measure  lost,  and  they  receiv- 
ing fresh  assistance  from  the  king,  (who  seemed  to  have  little 
conscience  in  making  laws,  and  found  small  difficulty  in 
breaking  them)  recruited  themselves  the  year  following,  and 
took  the  field,  but  with  no  better  success  than  formerly, 
which  obliged  them  to  yield  to  another  pacification,  wherein 
both  religious  and  civil  liberties  were  ratified  ;  and  in  1641, 
these  were  further  confirmed  by  the  oaths,  promises,  laws 
and  subscriptions  of  both  king  and  parliament,  whereat  the 
king  was  personally  present,  and  gave  the  royal  assent  to  all 
acts  made  for  the  security  of  the  same ;  while  at  the  same 
time  he  was  concurring  in  the  bloody  tragedy  acted  upon 
the  Protestants  in  the  kingdom  of  Ireland. 

The  gracious  countenance  and  abundant  evidence  of  divine 
approbation  wherewith  the  Lord  vouchsafed  to  bless  his 
contending,  reforming  and  covenanting  church  in  Scotland, 
in  a  plentiful  efi^usion  of  his  Holy  Spirit  on  the  judicatories 
and  worshipping  assemblies  of  his  people,  proved  a  happy 
means  to  excite  and  provoke  their  neighbors  in  England  and 
Ireland  to  go  and  do  likewise.  For  in  the  year  1643,  when 
the  beginning  of  a  bloody  war  between  the  king  and  parlia- 
ment of  England  threatened  the  nation  with  a  series  of 
calamity  and  trouble,  the  parliament  having  convocated  an 
assembly  of  divines  to  sit  at  Westminster  for  consulting 
about  a  reformation  of  religion  in  that  kingdom,  sent  com- 
missioners, consisting  of  members  of  both  houses  and  assem- 
bly, to  treat  with  the  assembly  of  the  church  of  Scotland, 
and  convention  of  estates  about  these  things.  In  the  month 
of  August^  they  presented  their  proposals  to  the  convention 
of  estates  and  assembly,  desiring,  that  because  the  popish 
prelatical  faction  is  still  pursuing  their  design  of  corrupting 
and  altering  the  religion  through  the  whole  island,  the  two 
nations  might  be  strictly  united  for  their  mutual  defense 
against  them  and  their  adherents,  and  not  to  lay  down  arms 
until  those,  their  implacable  enemies,  were  disarmed,  &c. ' 
Commissioners  were  deputed  from  the  estates,  and  assembly, 
to  convene  with  those  from  England,  in  order  to  consider 


[18] 

their  proposals.  And,  at  the  first  conferences,  it  was  agreed 
that  the  best  and  speediest  means  for  accomplishing  the 
union  and  assistance  desired,  was  for  both  nations  to  enter 
into  a  mutual  league  and  covenant  for  reformation  and 
defense  of  religion  and  liberty  against  its  enemies.  Which 
being  drawn  up,  and  affectionately  embraced,  was  unani- 
mously ajtproved  by  the  general  assembly  and  sent  up  to 
England  by  the  hands  of  the  ministers  and  elders,  sent  com- 
missioners from  the  church  of  Scotland  to  the  synod  at 
AVestminster,  where  (being  proposed  by  the  parliament  to 
the  consideration  of  the  synod),  after  the  interpolation  of  an 
explanatory  note  in  the  second  article,  it  was  approven,  and 
with  public  humiliation,  and  all  other  religious  and  an- 
swerable solemnity,  taken  and  subscribed  by  them  (the 
synod),  and  by  both  honorable  houses  of  parliament  and  by 
their  authority  taken  and  subscribed  by  all  ranks  in  England 
and  Ireland  that  same  year,  ratified  by  act  of  the  parliament 
of  Scotland,  anno  1644,  and  afterward  renewed  in  Scotland, 
with  an  acknowledgment  of  sins,  and  engagement  to  duties 
by  all  ranks  in  the  year  1648,  and  by  the  parliament,  1649. 

Thus,  to  the  rejoicing  of  all  true  lovers  of  the  prosperity 
and  Ijeauty  of  the  church,  who  longed  for  Christ,  the  salva- 
tion of  Israel,  his  coming  forth  out  of  Zion,  these  three 
churches  and  nations  combined  and  embarked  together  in 
tlie  same  honorable  and  glorious  cause  of  reformation,  and 
solemnly  bound  themselves  by  the  oath  of  God,  to  maintain 
and  defend  the  same  against  all  its  enemies  and  opposers 
whatever;  thereby  publicly  professing  their  subjection  to 
Christ,  and  their  preferring  of  pure  and  undefiled  religion, 
the  advancement  of  the  interest,  kingdom  and  glory  of  Jesus 
Christ,  to  their  nearest  and  dearest  interests  in  this  world. 
And  the  Lord  was  with  us  while  we  were  with  him,  and 
steadfast  in  his  covenant ;  but  when  we  forsook  him,  and 
broke  his  covenant,  he  also  forsook  us,  and  delivered  his 
strength  into  captivity,  and  his  glory  into  the  enemies'  hand. 

In  the  next  place,  the  assembly  at  Westminster,  with  the 
assistance  of  commissioners  from  the  general  assembly  of  the 
church  of  Scotland,  proceeded  to  conclude  on  what  was 
needful  for  furthering  and  completing  this  intended  and 
covenanted  uniformity  in  religion,  that  the  Lord  might  be 
one,  and  his  name  one  in  the  three  lands.  And  for  this 
purpose,  a  confession  of  faith  was  composed,  and  agreed 
upon  by  that  venerable  assembly,  together  with  catechisms 
larger  and  shorter,  propositions  concerning  church  govern- 
ment,  ordination  of  ministers,  and  directory  for  worship; 


[19] 

all    which    were   received    and   approved    by   the    General 
Assembly,  and  convention  of  estates  in  Scotland. 

The  Lord  thus  prospering  his  work  in  the  hands  of  his 
servants  employed  in  ecclesiastical  affairs,  gave  no  less  coun- 
tenance unto  the  parliament  of  England,  with  the  assistance 
they  received  from  Scotland,  in  defeating  all  the  wicked 
attempts  of  the  popish,  prelatical  and  malignant  party  in 
England,  overthrowing  their  tyranny,  and  reducing  the 
supporters  thereof.  A  like  victory  was  at  length  obtained 
over  Montrose  in  Scotland,  who  commanded  the  royalist,  or 
malignant  party  there,  and  had  for  some  time  carried  all 
before  him.  And  so  the  King  being  worsted  at  all  hands^ 
and  despairing  of  overtaking  his  designs,  his  army  having 
been  almost  all  cut  to  pieces,  and  himself  obliged  to  fly,  re- 
signed himself  ov^er  to  the  Scots  army  at  Newark,  in  the 
year  1646,  and  marched  along  with  them  to  Newcastle ;  and 
they,  upon  the  frequent  solicitations  of  the  English  parlia- 
ment, and  their  engaging  for  the  King's  honorable  treatment, 
delivered  him  over  to  them.  Afterward,  he  falling  into  the 
hands  of  Cromwell  and  the  English  army,  a  number  in  this 
nation  violated  the  oath  of  God,  which  they  had  lately 
come  under,  by  engaging  in  an  unlawful  war  with  England, 
commonly  called  the  Duke's  engagement,  in  order  to  rescue  the 
King  from  his  captivity  (notwithstanding  that  he  still  per- 
sisted in  his  opposition  to  the  just  claims,  both  of  the  church 
and  nation,  and  after  all  that  was  come  upon  him,  could  not  be 
reconciled  to  the  covenants  and  work  of  reformation) ;  where 
they  were  in  July^  1648,  totally  routed  by  Oliver  Cromwell ; 
and  Duke  Hamilton,  their  general,  being  made  prisoner,  was 
incarcerated  and  afterward  beheaded.  This  engagement  was 
remonstrated  against,  and  judicially  condemned  by  the 
General  Assembly  of  the  church  of  Scotland;  and  the  sinful- 
ness of  it  was  publicly  acknowledged  as  a  breach  of  the 
covenant-union  between  the  two  nations,  by  all  ranks  in 
Scotland  that  same  year,  at  the  renovation  of  the  Solemn 
League  and  Covenant  therein.  At  last  the  king  being 
seized  upon  by  Cromwell  and  his  sectarian  army,  was,  not- 
withstanding all  the  remonstrances  both  of  church  and 
state,  removed  by  a  violent  death.  Upon  which  the  par- 
liament of  Scotland,  on  the  bth  of  February^  1649,  caused 
proclaim  his  son  Charles  II,  king  of  Great  Britain,  France, 
and  Ireland  (which  title  he  had  assumed  himself  at  the 
Hague,  as  soon  as  the  report  of  his  father's  death  came  to 
his  ears),  promising  their  fidelity  and  defence  of  his  person 
and  authority,  according  to  the  National  Covenant,  and  the 
Solemn  League  and  Covenant.     And  at  the  same  time  de- 


[20] 

daring,  that  before  he  be  admitted  to  the  exercise  of  the 
royal  power,  he  shall  give  security  for  the  preservation  and 
maintenance  of  the  true  reformed  religion,  and  unity  of  the 
kingdoms,  now  established,  by  laws  both  civil  and  eccle- 
siastical, according  to  the  covenants:  which  security  for 
religion  and  liberty,  at  the  first  proposed  treaty  at  the 
Hague,  he  deferred  to  grant,  and  afterward  postponed  the 
signing  of  the  treaty  at  Breda,  when  everything  was  agreed 
upon,  from  the  great  hopes  he  entertained  of  accomplishing 
his  design,  without  acquiescing  with  their  demand  from 
Montrose's  expedition,  whom  he  had  sent  into  Scotland  with 
an  army,  in  order  to  prepare  his  way  into  that  kingdom,  by 
devastation  with  fire  and  sword.  But  this  intrigue  not  suc- 
ceeding, he  found  himself  obliged  to  comply  with  all  their 
proposals,  and  signed  the  treaty.  This  treaty  the  king  did 
in  effect  break,  before  he  left  Breda,  by  communicating  after 
the  episcopal  manner,  contrary  to  the  express  warning  and 
remonstrance  of  the  commissioners  from  the  church  of  Scot- 
land, who  went  to  him,  and  showed  him  his  sin  in  so  doing, 
and  how  inconsistant  it  was  with  his  own  concessions  in  the 
present  treaty ;  and  an  evidence  that  he  had  no  intention  to 
perform  what  he  had  ageeed  to,  but  dissembled  with  God  and 
man ;  and  he,  on  the  other  hand,  put  them  off  with  sham 
excuses  and  professions  ;  and  so,  from  their  too  much  credu- 
lity to  his  fraudulent  professions  and  promises  all  along, 
they  brought  him  over  to  Scotland,  and  before  his  landing 
in  this  kingdom,  he  takes  the  covenant  at  Spey,  on  the  22>rd 
of  June^  1649,  by  his  oath  subjoined  in  allowance  and  appro- 
bation of  the  Covenants  National,  and  Solemn  League, 
obliging  himself  faithfully  to  prosecute  the  ends  thereof  in 
his  station  and  calling ;  and  for  himself  and  successors,  he 
shall  agree  to  all  acts  of  parliament  enjoining  the  same,  and 
establishing  presbyterial  church  government,  the  directory  for 
worship,  confession  of  faith  and  catechisms,  in  the  kingdom 
of  Scotland,  as  approven  by  the  General  Assemblies  of  this 
kirk,  and  parliament  of  this  kingdom.  And  for  their 
further  satisfaction,  according  to  the  act  of  the  West  Kirk, 
Edinburgh,  August  13^A,  1650,  approven  the  same  day  by  the 
committee  of  estates,  he  emitted  a  declaration  at  Dunferm- 
line, by  profession,  fully  and  heartily  acquiescing  with  all 
their  demands ;  all  which  afterward  served  for  nothing  but  as 
a  lasting  monument  of  his  horrid  perjury,  wicked  dissimu- 
lation, and  mockery  of  God  and  man.  And  even  then, 
when  this  declaration  was  published,  he  had  formed  a  design 
for  bringing  in  the  enemies  of  the  covenant,  and  work  of 
reformation,  both  into  the  army  and  judicatories,  and  for 


[21] 

dividing  the  Presbyterians  among  themselves.  And  this  he 
effectually  managed  for  both  foresaid  ends,  by  the  public 
resolutions,  on  the  14:th  of  December,  that  same  year,  1650. 
This  woful  and  prime  step  of  defection,  so  contrary  to  the 
word,  and  injurious  to  the  work  of  God,  was  faithfully 
testified  against  by  many,  both  ministers,  and  whole  presby- 
teries, who  were  sensible  of  the  present  sinfulness  and  evil 
of  it,  and  foresaw  the  bitter  and  dismal  consequences  that 
followed  upon  it. 

In  the  meantime,  notwithstanding  this,  and  other  shrewd 
evidences,  the  king  gave  of  his  double  dealing  and  hypocrisy, 
he  was  crowned  at  Scoon,on  the  first  of  January,  1651,  and 
had  the  Covenants  National  and  Solemn  League  again  admin- 
istered unto  him,  by  the  reverend  Mr.  Douglas,  after  a  sermon 
from  2  Kings  xi,  12,  17,  which  he,  in  a  most  solemn  manner 
renewed,  before  the  three  estates  of  parliament,  the  commis- 
sioners of  the  General  Assembly,  and  a  numerous  congrega- 
tion, in  the  words  of  his  former  oath  at  Spey ;  with  the 
coronation  oath,  as  contained  in  the  8th  Act  Pari.  1st,  James 
YI,  to  all  which  he  engaged  before  his  coronation ;  and  on 
these  terms,  and  no  other,  were  the  oaths  of  fidelity  to  him, 
as  the  lawful  supreme  magistrate,  taken,  at  his  receipt  of  the 
royal  authority.  And  consequently,  these  covenant  engage- 
ments became  fundamental  constitutions,  both  in  church 
and  state,  and  the  door  of  access  into  office-bearing  in  either, 
and  formal  ground  of  the  people's  subjection.  Then  was  the 
church's  appearance  "  Beautiful  as  Tirzah,  comely  as  Jeru- 
salem, and  terrible  as  an  army  with  banners." 

From  what  is  noticed  above,  the  presbytery  cannot  but 
declare  their  hearty  approbation  of  the  zeal,  courage,  and 
faithfulness  of  our  honored  ancestors,  in  their  valiant  con- 
tendings  for  the  valuable  liberties  and  privileges  of  the 
spiritual  kingdom  of  the  Messiah,  until  they  got  the  same 
established,  and  the  nations  brought  under  the  most  solemn, 
sacred,  and  inviolable  engagements,  to  maintain  every  branch 
of  this  glorious  reformation;  a  reformation,  not  only  from 
the  more  gross  errors,  and  idolatries  of  popery,  but  from  the 
more  refined  superstition  of  prelacy,  and  all  that  Anti- 
christian  and  Erastian  supremacy,  that  in  former  times  had 
been  exercised  on  the  heritage  of  the  Lord  ;  a  reformation 
of  both  the  divine  ordinances  of  ministry  and  magistracy, 
from  all  the  abuses  and  corruptions  thereof,  by  the  inventions 
of  men,  joined  with  the  above  mentioned  establishment  of 
them,  in  some  measure  of  agreeableness  unto  their  scriptural 
institution. 

Likeas,  the  presbytery  did,  and  hereby  do  declare  their  ap- 


[22] 

probation  of,  and  adherence  unto  foresaid  reformation,  in  all 
the  different  parts  and  branches  thereof,  attained  from  1638 
to  1650  inclusive,  and  sworn  to  in  the  National  and  Solemn 
League  and  Covenant,  not  exclusive  of  such  parts  of  re- 
formation as  were  attained  unto  prior  to  this,  but  as  a  further 
advance  on  this  foundation,  and  as  being  much  more  pure 
and  agreeable  to  the  infallible  standard  of  scrijtture,  than 
any  formerly  arrived  at  in  these  nations. 

The  daughter  of  Zion,  thus  going  forth  in  the  perfection 
of  her  beauty,  when  all  ranks  and  degrees  voluntarily  sub- 
jected themselves  unto  the  Royal  iScepter  of  the  Son  of  God, 
was  most  comely  in  the  eyes  of  her  Beloved:  but  oh!  how 
is  the  gold  become  dim,  and  the  most  fine  gold  changed  ;  the 
stones  of  the  sanctuary  are  poured  out  on  the  top  of  every 
street,  so  that  the  house  that  was  called  of  all  people  the 
house  of  prayer,  is  now  become  a  den  of  thieves,  being  no 
less  infamously  despicable  for  deformation,  than  formerly  for 
purity  of  reformation  highl}^  admired.  This,  at  first,  began 
with  the  public  resolutions  of  the  commission  of  the  General 
Assembly,  1650,  above  noticed,  I'or  taking  into  places  of 
power  and  trust,  in  judicatories  and  armies,  such  persons  as 
were  known  malignants,  and  in  heart  disafiected  to  the  work, 
and  people  of  God,  putting  it  in  their  power  to  destroy  and 
pull  down  the  Lord's  work  at  their  pleasure ;  a  practice 
manifestly  inconsistent  with  their  covenant  engagements, 
and  the  word  of  God,  iJeut.  xxiii,  9,  2  Chron.  xix,  2.  Those 
that  were  then  called  protestors  (from  their  opposing  and 
protesting  against  these  resolutions),  continued  steadfastly  to 
witness  against  the  same,  as  the  first  remarkable  step,  to 
make  way  for  that  bloody  catastrophe,  that  afterwards  befel 
the  church.  The  Lord,  then,  in  his  righteous  dis[)leasure 
and  controversy  with  the  nation,  for  betraying  of  his  cause 
and  interest  into  the  hands  of  his  enemies,  sold  them  into 
the  hand  of  that  conquering  usurper,  Oliver  Cromwell,  who, 
having  stripped  them  of  their  civil  liberties,  as  the  most 
effectual  method  to  rob  the  church  of  her  spiritual  privileges, 
and  nullify  the  forcible  obligation  of  the  sacred  covenants 
(which,  when  preserved,  serve  as  a  strong  barrier  against  all 
such  usurpations),  framed  a  hellish  and  almost  unbounded 
toleration  in  Scotland,  of  heretical  and  sectarian  errors,  for 
gratification  of  the  abettors  thereof,  which  was  followed  with 
a  deluge  of  irreligion  and  impiety,  drowning  the  nation  in  a 
still  deeper  apostacy. 

In  this  hour  of  temptation,  the  witnesses  for  Christ,  en- 
deavoring to  keep  the  word  of  his  patience,  testified  against 
these  evils,  as  contrary  to  the  word  and  oath  of  God,  and 


[23] 

destructive  of  the  church's  former  glorj-.  And  Charles  II, 
who  had  lately,  by  all  the  confirmations  of  word,  writ,  and 
solemn  oath,  obliged  himself  for  the  maintenance  and  defence 
of  religion  and  liberty,  having  cast  off  the  thing  that  was 
good,  the  enemy  did  pursue  him  so,  that  he,  instead  of  being 
able  to  stand  as  a  head  of  defence  to  the  nations,  narrowly 
escaped  with  life  from  the  enemies'  hands,  being  obliged  to 
abscond  and  fly  before  the  sectaries  into  France ;  where,  and 
in  other  parts,  he  remained  an  exile  for  the  space  of  ten  years, 
and  there  discovered,  he  had  no  regard  to  the  principles  he 
had  lately  professed  and  sworn  to  maintain :  but  breaking 
his  professed  wedlock  with  Christ,  is  said,  at  that  juncture, 
to  have  joined  hands  with  the  Romish  whore,  laying  aside 
his  cloak  of  professed  godliness,  and  again  taking  up  with  the 
mystery  of  iniquity. 

During  the  ten  years'  usurpation  of  Cromwell,  those  who 
endeavored  faithfulness,  had  a  fight  of  afiliction  to  keep  their 
ground ;  yet.  after  this  came  to  a  period,  they  had  a  far 
more  fierce  encounter,  and  of  longer  duration,  to  engage  in, 
in  the  cruel  and  bloody  tragedy  acted  upon  them  for  the 
space  of  twenty -eight  years. 

As,  by  the  public  resolutions,  and  foresaid  unbounded 
toleration,  the  bounds  fixed  by  Jehovah,  and  homologated  and 
sworn  to,  in  our  national  attainments  and  constitution,  were 
greatly  altered  ;  so  the  parliament  of  England  prepared  the 
tools,  whereby  the  carved  work  of  the  sanctuary  (as  far  as 
human  craft  and  cruelty  could  invent)  was  broken  down,  in 
restoring  Charles  II,  without  any  conditions  required,  or  ex- 
press limitations  set.  And  Sharp  being  sent  from  the  church 
of  Scotland,  to  stand  up  for  her  rights  and  privileges,  fraud- 
ulently sold  her  into  the  hands  of  lier  enemies  ;  upon  which, 
many  of  the  professed  disciples  of  Christ,  who  followed  him 
in  the  sunshine  of  prosperity  and  reformation,  forsook  him, 
and  fled  into  the  enemies'  camp.  Thus  our  decline  began ; 
but,  oh  1  to  what  a  dreadful  height  Erastianism,  tyranny,  and 
bloodshed  arrived,  before  the  Lord,  in  his  providence,  put  a 
stop  to  it. 

Although  the  presbytery  cannot  be  supposed,  in  a  consisten- 
cy with  their  present  design,  to  reckon  up  all,  yet  they  would 
endeavor  to  take  notice  of  some  of  the  most  remarkable  in- 
stances of  backsliding,  treachery  and  oppression,  bloodshed, 
etc.,  acted  in  these  nations  during  the  late  persecuting  period, 
together  with  the  faithful  contendings  and  patient  sufferings 
unto  death  of  the  saints  and  servants  of  Christ,  in  this  hot 
furnace  of  afiliction  into  which  they  were  cast.  As  1,  The 
unhappy  restoration  of  Charles  II,  in  manner  before  men- 


[■24] 

tioned  commencing.  The  faithful  declarations  and  testimonies 
given  in  favors  of  the  covenanted  reformation  and  uniformity, 
were  all  on  a  sudden  given  up  with ;  the  viper  received  into 
our  bosom,  and  again  advanced  unto  the  regal  dignity,  who 
soon  discovered  himself  to  be  of  the  ser})entine  seed,  and  by 
his  wicked  agency  imped  the  dragon  his  master,  by  casting 
out  of  his  mouth  a  flood  of  persecution  after  the  church,  that 
he  might  cause  her  to  be  destroyed  therewith.  To  this  effect 
the  anti-christian  yoke  of  abjured  prelacy-,  with  all  its  tyran- 
nical laws,  and  canonical  train  of  observances,  service  book, 
ceremonies,  etc.,  was  speedily  wreathed  about  England's  neck, 
and  Scotland  soon  felt  part  of  its  weight.  For  in  tlie  month 
of  August,  1660,  when  some  of  her  most  zealous  and  faithful 
ministers  met  upon  this  emergency,  in  order  to  send  an  ad- 
dress to  the  king,  reminding  him  of  his  duty,  and  solemn 
obli2:ations  to  perform  the  same ;  the  committee  appointed 
by  the  parliament,  anno  1651,  for  exercise  of  government, 
until  another  parliament  should  meet,  who  then  shewed 
themselves  zealous  for  the  reformation,  yet  now  acted  a 
counter-part,  by  incarcerating  the  foresaid  ministers,  and 
emitting  a  proclamation,  prohibiting  all  such  meetings  with- 
out the  king's  authority,  and  all  petitions  and  remonstrances, 
under  pretence  that  they  were  seditious.  This  was  the  first 
beginning  of  those  sorrows  and  calamities  that  ensued  in 
the  many  sanguinary  laws  afterwards  made  and  executed 
upon  the  true  friends  of  Zion. 

2.  When  the  ministry,  by  means  of  the  foresaid  prohi- 
bitions, were  much  dispirited  from  their  duty,  dreading  such 
usage  as  they  had  lately  met  with,  the  parliament  which 
met  in  Scotland  in  December,  1661,  falls  upon  breaking 
down  the  carved  work  of  the  sanctuary  effectually,  and  rob- 
bing our  church  of  that  depositum  committed  unto  her  by 
her  glorious  Head.  Thus  did  they  wickedly  combine  and 
gather  themselves  together  to  plot  against  the  Lord,  and 
against  his  Anointed,  that  they  might  break  his  bands,  and 
cast  his  cords  from  them.  For  which  intent,  after  besmear- 
ing the  consciences  of  most  of  the  members  with  tlie  guilt 
of  that  abominable  and  wicked  oath  of  allegiance  and  suprem- 
acy, that  they  might  be  secured  to  the  court  and  king's  in- 
terest, and  ready  to  swallow  down  whatever  might  be 
afterwards  proposed,  they  passed  an  act  recissory,  declaring^ 
all  the  parliaments,  and  acts  of  parliament  made  in  favor  of 
reformation,  from  the  year  1610  to  1651,  null  and  void.  ^  The 
king's  supremacy  over  all  persons,  and  in  all  causes,  is  as- 
serted. All  meetings,  assemblies,  leagues  and  covenants, 
without  the  king's  authority,  are  declared  unlawful  and  un- 


[25] 

warrantable.  The  renewing  of  the  solemn  league  and  cove- 
nant, or  any  other  covenants  or  public  oaths,  without  the 
king's  special  warrant  and  approbation,  is  discharged.  Beside 
these,  another  heinous  act  was  framed  by  the'  same  parlia- 
ment, for  observing  every  29th  of  May  as  an  anniversary 
thanksgiving,  in  commemoration  of  the  unhappy  restoration 
of  this  miner  of  religion  and  reformation. 

3.  In  the  second  session  of  the  pretended  parliament, 
anno  1662,  diocesan  Erastian  prelacy  is  established,  and  the 
king  solemnly  invested  with  the  church's  headship,  by  act  of 
parliament ;  wherein  it  is  blasphemously  declared,  "  That 
''  the  ordering  and  disposal  of  the  external  government  and 
"  policy  of  the  church,  doth  properly  belong  unto  his  majesty 
"  as  an  inherent  right  of  the  crown,  by  virtue  of  his  royal 
"prerogative  and  supremacy  in  all  causes  ecclesiastical." 
All  such  acts  of  parliament  or  council  are  rescinded,  which 
might  be  interpreted  (as  their  acts  bear)  to  give  any  church 
power,  jurisdiction,  or  government,  to  the  office-bearers  of 
the  church,  other  than  that,  which  acknowledges  a  depend- 
ence upon,  and  subordination  to  the  sovereign  power  of  the 
king  as  supreme.  And  although  the  lordly  prelates  were 
hereby  promoted  to  all  the  privileges  and  dignities  they  pos- 
sessed before  the  year  1638,  yet  must  they  be  all  accountable 
to  the  king,  in  all  their  administrations,  and  in  subordina- 
tion to  him,  as  universal  bishop  of  all  England,  Scotland  and 
Ireland.  By  which  the  fountain  of  church  power  and  author- 
ity is  lodged  in  the  king's  person,  and  Christ  is  exauctorated 
and  dethroned  as  King  and  Head  in  Zion.  And  further,  by 
the  second  act  of  that  perfidious  parliament,  the  covenanted 
reformation,  and  all  that  was  done  in  favor  thereof,  from 
1638  to  1650,  was  declared  treasonable,  and  rebellious. 
Alike  treasonable  it  was  reckoned  for  subjects,  on  pretence 
of  reformation,  or  any  other  pretence  whatsoever,  tq  enter 
into  any  federal  association,  or  take  up  arms  against  the 
king.  They  also  declared,  that  the  national  covenant,  as 
sworn  in  the  year  1638,  and  the  solemn  league  and  covenant, 
were,  and  are  in  themselves  unlawful  oaths,  and  that  they 
were  imposed  upon,  and  taken  by  the  subjects  of  this  king- 
dom, contrary  to  the  fundamental  laws  and  liberties  thereof. 
And  to  complete  all,  they  repealed  all  acts,  ecclesiastical  and 
civil,  approving  the  covenants,  particularly  the  acts  of  the 
venerable  assembly  at  Glasgow,  1638,  declaring  it  an  unlaw- 
ful and  seditious  meeting.  And  thereafter,  by  a  wicked  act 
of  the  council  of  Glasgow,  more  than  three  hundred  min- 
isters were  illegaly  thrust  from  their  charges,  for  their  non- 
conformity, in  discountenancing  a  diocesan  meeting,  or  synod, 


[26] 

appointed  by  the  archbishop  of  Glasgow,  and  not  observing 
the  annivereary  thanksgiving,  May  29th,  enjoined  by  the 
parliament.  The  rest  were  violently  ejected  from  the  lawful 
exercise  of  their  ministry  in  their  several  parishes,  and  were 
afterwards  commanded  by  act  of  parliament  to  remove  them- 
selves and  their  families  twenty  miles  distant  from  their  re- 
spective flocks,  and  not  to  reside  within  six  miles  of  any  of 
their  (so-called)  cathedrals,  or  three  miles  of  a  burgh.  By  these 
means,  many  of  those  poor  persecuted  ministers,  with  their 
families,  were  brought  into  great  hardships  and  wants,  being 
so  far  removed  from  their  beloved  and  affectionate  flocks, 
that  they  were  deprived  of  that  help  from  them,  that  doubt- 
less they  would  cheerfully  have  ministered,  for  relieving  them 
in  their  necessities  and  straits.  All  this  was  done  at  the  in- 
stigation of  the  prelates,  who  could  not  endure  to  have  a 
godly  presbyterian  minister  near  them,  and  were  resolved  to 
make  them  as  miserable  as  possible. 

As  the  observation  of  that  anniversary  holy  day.  May 
29th,  was  again  enjoined  by  this  parliament,  1662,  with  cer- 
tification, the  non-observance  of  which  was  one  main  cause 
of  the  sufferings  of  the  ministers  above  noticed,  we  cannot 
pass  over  without  mentioning  that  most  abhorred  and  heav- 
en-daring ignominy  and  contempt  put  upon  our  solemn  and 
sacred  covenants,  and  upon  Grod  the  great  Party  in  them,  at 
Linlithgow  on  that  day,  by  a  theatrical  exposing,  and  pre- 
sumptuous committing  them  to  the  flames,  together  with 
The  causes  of  God's  wrath^  Lex  Bex,  acts  of  parliament,  acts 
of  committees  of  estates,  and  acts  of  assemblies  made,  during 
what  they  called  the  twenty-two  years  rebellion,  that  is, 
from  1638  to  1660,  done  b}^  the  authority  of  the  pretended 
magistrates  there  ;  one  of  which,  and  the  minister  Ramsay, 
were  formerly  zealous  and  active  covenanters,  and  conse- 
quently now  publicly  avowed  and  proclaimed  their  perjury 
in  the  face  of  the  sun,  and  left  an  indelible  stain  upon  their 
memory. 

Hitherto,  although  many,  both  ministers,  gentlemen  and 
others,  had  endured  unexpressible  hardships  and  severities, 
yet  few  or  none  suffered  to  the  death,  save  that  noble  peer, 
the  Marquis  of  Argyle,  who  was  condemned  by  the  parlia- 
ment, 1661,  and  beheaded  May  27th  ;  and  the  reverend  Mr. 
James  Guthrie,  who  suffered  Ave  days  thereafter.  These  two 
were  singled  out — the  one  in  the  state,  the  other  in  the  church 
— to  fall  a  victim  to  the  resentment  and  fury  of  the  enemies  of 
that  covenanted  work  of  reformation,  which  the}'  had  both 
in  an  eminent  manner  been  honored  of  God  to  support  and 
advaiice  ;  and  also  a  specimen  of  what  was  afterwards. to  be 


[27] 

the  fate  of  all  that  should  adhere  to  the  same  glorious  cause, 
and  stand  up  for  God  against  these  workers  of  iniquity. 
And,  as  the  foundation  of  that  anti-christian  and  Avicked 
hierarchy  in  the  church,  and  of  arbitrary  power  and  absolute 
tyranny  in  the  state,  was  laid  in  the  blood  of  these  two 
proto-martyrs  for  the  covenant  and  cause  of  God,  so  they 
now  {July^  1663),  proceeded  to  build  it  up  with  the  blood  of 
another  noble  and  worthy  patriot,  the  eminently  religiously 
and  learned  Lord  Warriston.  He  having  before,  in  1660, 
when  Argyle  was  apprehended,  been  ordered,  together  with 
several  others,  to  be  secured  and  committed  to  prison,  fled 
beyond  sea,  to  escape  the  fury  of  his  enemies,  and  even  there 
did  their  crafty  malice  reach  him ;  for,  having  sent  out  one 
of  their  blood-thirsty  emissaries  in  quest  of  him,  he  was  ap- 
prehended by  him  at  Roan,  in  France,  brought  over  to  Lon- 
don, and  sent  thence  to  Edinburgh,  where  he  was  executed 
on  a  former  unjust  sentence  of  forfeiture  and  death,  passed 
upon  him  in  his  absence.  Thus  they  built  up  Zion  with 
blood,  and  Jerusalem  with  iniquity.  But  all  this  was  nothing 
to  the  cruelty  that  followed,  and  the  righteous  blood  after- 
ward shed  in  that  quarrel. 

4.  Although  the  faithful  servants  of  Christ  gave  too  silent 
submission  for  a  time  to  these  encroachments  made  upon 
their  sacred  functions,  yet,  as  they  received  not  their  mis- 
sion from  men,  so  they  resolved  not  to  become  the  servants 
of  men,  but  to  hazard  the  loss  of  every  thing  that  was  dear 
to  them  in  this  world,  that  they  might  shew  themselves 
faithful  unto  their  Lord  and  Master,  and  valiant  for  his  truth 
upon  the  earth,  in  going  forth  without  the  camp,  bearing 
his  reproach.  When  they  could  no  longer,  with  a  safe  con- 
science, enjoy  their  benefices  and  churches,  and  the  Lord  so 
expressly  called  for  their  service,  in  feeding  the  starving 
souls  of  his  people,  they  betook  themselves  to  the  open  fields, 
setting  their  faces  to  all  the  storms  to  which  they  were  ex- 
posed by  that  high  commission  court  that  was  erected ; 
wherein  the  bishops  were  chief  agents,  being  made  therein 
necessary  members  for  putting  the  former,  with  what  subse- 
quent wicked  laws  were  made  against  the  servants  of  Christ, 
in  execution.  And,  by  this  time,  that  deceiving,  cruel,  per- 
jured apostate  bishop.  Sharp ^  had  obtained  the  presidency  in 
this  and  all  other  public  courts  in  the  kingdom.  The  pro- 
ceedings of  this  court  were  very  unjust,  cruel  and  arbitrary, 
similar  to  its  preposterous  and  illegal  constitution.  Persons 
were,  without  any  accusation,  information,  witness  or  accuser, 
arraigned  before  them,  to  answer  super  inquirendis  to  w^hat- 
ever  interrogatories  they  were  pleased  to  propose,  without 


[28] 

license  to  make  any  lawful  defence,  or,  upon  their  offering  so 
to  do,  were  required  to  take  the  oath  of  supremacy,  their  re- 
fusal of  which  was  accounted  cause  sufficient  for  proceeding 
against  them.  And  although  taking  ord«r  with  papists  was 
first  in  their  commission,  yet  last,  or  rather  not  at  all,  in 
execution ;  while  their  infernal  rage  was  principally  set  on 
Presbyterians,  in  fining,  confining  and  imprisoning  them, 
for  the  non-conformity  of  ministers,  and  their  disregarding 
their  pretended  sentences  of  deposition,  and  the  people's  re- 
fusing to  countenance  the  authority  and  ministry  of  these 
prelatic  wolves,  who  came  in  to  scatter  and  tear  the  flock  of 
Christ,  but  endeavoring  to  cleave  to  their  lawful  pastors, 
have  equal  friends  and  foes  with  them,  and  hear  Christ's 
law  of  kindness  from  their  mouth.  The  idol  of  jealousy 
was  thus  set  up  in  the  house  of  God,  and  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  sacrilegiously  robbed  of  his  incommunicable  suprem- 
acy and  headship  over  his  church  by  the  state  ;  whereby  the 
Pope's  supremacy  was  well  nigh  claimed,  and  Spanish  in- 
quisition cruelty  almoet  acted  by  this  abominable  court ;  and 
all  at  the  instigation  and  for  the  gratification  of  these 
monsters  of  iniquity,  the  prelates,  who  still  agitated  the  court 
to  exercise  more  cruelty,  than  even  of  themselves  tliey  were 
inclined  to. 

5.  Upon  the  decline  of  this  rigorous  court,  new  measures 
were  again  fallen  upon  for  the  oppression,  suppression  and 
extirpation  of  the  true  reformed  religion,  and  the  professors 
of  it.  The  council  being  very  diligent  and  careful  to  deprive 
the  Lord's  people  of  every  thing  which  might  contribute 
to  their  establishment  and  confirmation  in  the  righteousness 
and  equity  of  the  cause  and  covenant  of  God  for  which  they 
suffered,  and  which  tended  to  expose  their  tyranny  and  trea- 
son against  God,  ordered  the  famous  Mr.  Brown's  Apologetieal 
Relation  to  be  burnt  in  the  high  street  of  Edinburgh,  on 
February  14th,  166G,  by  the  hand  of  the  common  hangman  ; 
and  all  persons  who  had  copies  of  said  book  were  required  to 
give  them  up,  and  such  as  concealed  them  to  be  fined  2000^. 
Scots^  if  discovered.  Such  w^as  their  hellish  enmity  and  spite 
against  our  covenanted  reformation,  and  every  thing  written 
in  defence  thereof,  and  in  vindication  of  those  that  suffered 
for  their  adherence  to  it.  About  the  same  time,  Sharp,  for 
the  more  effectual  accomplishment  of  his  wicked  designs 
(the  high  commission  being  now  dissolved,  and  his  guilty 
conscience,  it  seems,  suggesting  fears  of  an  insurrection  of 
the  oppressed,  to  relieve  themselves  from  their  cruel  op- 
pressors), obtains  an  order  from  the  king  for  raising  an 
additional  number  of  forces,  for  the  security  and  establish- 


[29] 

ment  of  himself  and  his  associates  in  their  thi-ones  of 
iniquity,  by  destroying  all  the  faithful  in  the  land,  oppressing 
and  wearing  out  the  saints  of  the  Most  High,  and  burning 
up  and  dispersing  all  the  synagogues  of  God  in  the  nation. 
In  consequence  of  this,  about  three  thousand  foot,  and  eight 
troops  of  dragoons  were  got  together,  and  the  command  of 
them  given  to  Dalziel  of  Binns^  a  wicked,  lierce,  cruel  man. 
These  were  the  instruments  of  that  unprecedented  barbarity, 
cruelty  and  oppression,  committed  in  the  West,  after  the 
defeat  of  Colonel  Wallace  and  his  little  army  of  covenanters, 
at  Pentland  Hills,  November  28th,  1666.  The  occasion  and 
cause  of  which  rising  was,  in  short,  this  :  Sir  James  Turner 
had  been  sent  the  year  before  into  the  south-west  shires  of 
Dumfries  and  Kirkcudbright,  in  order  to  suppress  conventi- 
cles (so  they  called  the  assemblies  of  God's  people  for  public 
worship  and  other  religious  exercises),  levy  the  fines  ap- 
pointed by  the  parliament,  and  oblige  the  people  to  conform 
and  submit  to  the  bishops  and  curates  by  force  of  arms. 
Turner,  in  pursuance  of  these  cruel  orders,  committed  great 
severities,  dreadfully  oppressed,  robbed  and  spoiled  the 
country.  In  the  parish  of  Dairy,  in  Galloway,  three  or  four 
of  his  blackguard  crew,  seizing  upon  a  poor  countryman, 
carried  him  to  his  own  house,  and  were  going  to  torture  him 
in  a  cruel  manner,  by  setting  him  naked  on  a  red-hot  gridiron  ; 
which  four  of  the  persecuted  party  hearing  of,  they  repaired 
to  the  house,  disarmed  the  soldiers  (upon  their  refusing  to 
be  entreated  in  behalf  of  the  poor  man),  and  delivered  their 
fellow  sufferer.  And  lest  the  rest  of  the  soldiers  quartered 
in  the  parish  (to  force  people  to  keep  their  parish  church), 
should  fall  upon  them,  being  joined  with  seven  or  eight 
more  of  their  friends,  they  attacked  them  early  next  morning, 
being  about  twelve  in  number,  and  disarmed  them,  killing 
one  that  made  resistance.  Whereupon,  the  country  being 
alarmed,  and  being  apprehensive,  from  sad  experience,  of  the 
revenge  Sir  James  would  take  upon  the  whole  country  for 
this  affront,  without  distinction  of  age  or  sex,  they  deter- 
mined to  stand  in  their  own  defense.  And,  getting  together 
a  good  number  of  horse  and  foot,  they  march  to  Dumfries, 
surprise  Turner  himself,  take  him  prisoner,  and  disarm  his 
soldiers,  without  any  further  violence.  Being  thus  by  Provi- 
dence engaged,  without  any  hope  of  retreat,  and  being  joined 
by  many  more  of  their  brethren  in  the  same  condition  with 
themselves,  some  ministers,  and  Colonel  Wallace  (afterward 
chosen  general),  they  come  to  Lanerk,  where  they  renew 
the  covenant,  November  26th,  1666,  and  thence  to  Pentland 
Hills,  where,  being  attacked  by  Dalziel  and  his  blood-hounds, 


[30] 

they  were,  notwithstanding  their  bravery  in  repulsing  the 
enemy  twice,  at  last  totally  routed,  man}-  killed  and  taken 
prisoners,  most  of  the  prisoners  treacherous! 3^  executed  (not- 
withstanding they  were  taken  upon  solemn  promise  to  have 
their  lives  spared),  of  whom  the  Lord  was  graciously  pleased, 
not  only  to  accept  of  a  testimony,  by  sufferings,  but  also 
countenanced  them,  even  to  admiration,  in  sealing  the  same 
with  their  blood.  After  this,  there  were  severe  edicts  issued 
out  against  all  who  had  any  hand  in  this  appearance  for 
God's  cause  and  covenant  (called  by  them  rebellion,  a  horri- 
ble conspiracy,  and  what  not) ;  all  the  subjects  were  strictly 
charged  not  to  harbor,  reset,  supply,  or  in  any  manner  of 
way  correspond  with  any  that  were  concerned  in  this  engage- 
ment, but  that  they  pursue  and  deliver  them  up  to  justice, 
or  otherwise  be  esteemed  and  punished  as  favorers  of  it.  This 
appearance  for  religion  and  liberty  became,  for  a  time,  the 
principal  crime  of  which  those  were  indicted  who  were  prose- 
cuted by  this  wicked  council,  and  other  merciless  enemies,  to 
whom  they  committed  the  management  of  their  aflairs. 

6.  Although  the  cruelty  of  the  court  had  hitherto  been 
very  great,  yet  they  had  not  wholly  effectuated  their  wicked 
design  of  exterminating  and  destroying  true  religion,  and 
the  professors  thereof,  both  ministers  and  people;  but,  like 
Israel  under  Pharaoh's  yoke,  the  more  they  oppressed  them, 
and  suppressed  their  meetings,  the  more  numerous  and  fre- 
quent they  grew,  so  that  their  enemies  were  obliged  to  alter 
their  course  a  little  from  cruelty  into  craft.  This  appeared 
in  the  first  indulgence,  granted  anno  1669,  with  design  to 
divide  Presbyterians  among  themselves,  that  they  might  the 
more  easily  destroy  them.  Hereb}^  a  pretended  liberty  was 
given  to  several  ministers  ejected  by  the  act  of  Glasgow, 
1662  (especially  public  resolutioners,  who  had  formerly  served 
the  court  interest  in  that  matter),  under  certain  restrictions, 
destructive  of  their  ministerial  freedom  and  faithfulness,  to 
preach  and  exercise  the  other  functions  of  the  ministry  in 
vacant  churches.  In  this  fraudulent  snare  many  were  taken ; 
and  even  such  of  them  as  did  accept  of  the  indulgence,  but 
did  not  keep  by  the  instructions  given  them  by  the  council, 
and  observe  the  wicked  anniversary,  &c.,  were  afterward 
prosecuted,  fined,  and  some  turned  out.  And  those  who 
refused  compliance  therewith,  and  testified  against  it,  as 
flowing  from  that  blasphemous  supremacy  and  absolute 
powder,  which  the  king  had  assumed,  were  most  severely 
handled,  and  their  assemblies  for  public  worship  interdicted 
under  the  highest  pains.  A  second  indulgence  was  framed 
in  the  year  1672,  in  which  net  they  expected  to  inclose  such 


[81] 

as  the  first  had  not  caught.  3y  this,  liberty  was  granted  to 
a  number  of  non-conformed  ministers,  named  by  the  council, 
not  yet  indulged,  to  exercise  their  ministry  in  such  places  as 
the  council  thought  fit  to  ordain  and  appoint  them,  con- 
forming themselves  to  the  rules  given  by  the  council  to  those 
that  were  formerly  indulged,  besides  other  restrictions, 
wherewith  this  new  liberty  was  clogged.  And,  as  one  spe- 
cial design  of  the  court,  in  granting  both  the  first  and  this 
second  indulgence,  was  to  put  an  effectual  stop  to  the  meet- 
ings of  the  Lord's  people,  ludicrously  called  by  them  field 
conventicles,  so  they  took  occasion,  on  account  of  their  con- 
tempt of  this  their  indulgence  and  liberty,  to  prosecute  all 
such  as  kept,  or  attended  on,  these  meetings,  in  a  more  merci- 
less and  furious  manner.  This  indulgence  was  accepted  by 
many  ministers  ;  and  part  thereof,  by  others  represented  as  a 
grievance,  and  redress  required.  But  although  nothing  of 
this  kind  was  obtained,  yet  it  was  fallen  in  with  and  ac- 
cepted by  most  of  those  who  subscribed  the  remonstrance 
against  it ;  and  those  few  who  rejected  it,  and  continued 
faithfully  to  discharge  their  ofl3.cial  trust  in  the  open  fields, 
without  coming  under  any  of  these  sinful  restrictions,  be- 
came, more  especially,  the  butt  of  their  enemies'  malice  and 
tyranny,  were  more  vigorously  prosecuted,  and  such  as  were 
suspected  or  convicted  of  attending  on  their  field  meetings, 
were  fined  in  an  exorbitant  manner,  and  ministers  imprisoned, 
when  they  could  be  apprehended.  And  because  these  field 
meetings,  the  great  eye-sore  of  the  prelates,  still  increased, 
they  prevailed  with  the  council  1674,  to  take  more  special 
notice  of  the  preachers  at  said  meetings,  who  appointed  a 
committee  for  that  effect,  and  ordered  their  chancelor  to  send 
out  parties  to  apprehend  certain  of  them,  according  to  their 
direction.  And  the  same  year,  a  bond  was  imposed,  binding 
and  obliging  tenants,  that  if  they,  their  wives,  or  any  of 
their  children,  cottars  or  servants,  should  keep  or  be  pre- 
sent at  any  conventicles,  either  in  houses  or  fields,  that 
every  tenant  laboring  land  be  fined  for  each  house  con- 
venticle in  25^.  Scots ;  each  cottar  in  121.  Scots ;  each 
servant  man  in  a  fourth  part  of  his  year's  fee,  and  hus- 
bands the  half  of  these  fines  for  such  of  their  wives  and 
children  as  shall  be  at  the  house  conventicles;  and 
the  double  of  these  respective  fines  for  each  of  the  said 
persons  who  shall  be  at  any  field  conventicles,  &c.  And 
upon  refusal  of  said  bond,  they  were  to  be  put  to  the  horn, 
and  their  escheat  or  forfeiture  given  to  their  masters.  They 
likewise,  at  the  same  time,  issued  forth  another  proclamation, 
for  apprehending  the  holders  of,  and  repairers  to,  field  meet- 


[32] 

iiigs,  by  them  designed  rebels,  and  whoever  should  seize  such 
should  have  the  fines,  so  unjustly  imposed  for  tli^sir  reward ; 
with  a  particular  sum  offered  for  apprehending  any  of  the 
conventicle  preachers,  and  this  sum  doubled  for  some  that 
were  more  eminent  among  them,  and  diligent  in  working 
the  work  of  him  that  sent  them,  against  whom  their  malice 
was  more  especially  turned.  These  rigorous  measures  they 
continued  to  prosecute  ;  and  in  the  year  1675,  letters  of  inter- 
communing  were  given  out  against  several  ministers  and 
private  christians,  by  name,  both  denouncing  them  rebels,  and 
secluding  them  from  all  society  in  the  kingdom  of  Scotland  ; 
further  requiring,  that  no  accommodation  should  be  given,  or 
communication  any  manner  of  way  held  with  them,  under 
the  pain  of  being  (according  to  them)  accounted  socii  criminis, 
and  pursued  as  guilty,  with  them,  of  the  same  crimes.  These 
inhuman  and  unprecedented  methods  reduced  the  sufferers  to 
many  wanderings  and  great  hardships.  It  is  impossible  to 
recite  the  miserfes  these  faithful  confessors  underwent — wan- 
dering about  in  deserts,  in  mountains,  in  dens,  and  in  caves 
of  the  earth,  destitute,  afilicted,  tormented  ;  besides  the  other 
severe  impositions,  upon  the  country  in  general,  the  bonds 
imposed,  and  rage  of  the  Highland  host  then  raised,  which, 
together  with  the  soldiers,]  greatly  spoiled  and  robbed  the 
west  country  especially,  by  which  means  poor  people  were 
brought  to  very  low  circumstances. 

7.  JS'otwithstanding  of  all  the  tyranny  and  treachery 
hitherto  exercised,  the  word  of  God  grew,  and  converts  unto 
Christ,  and  the  obedience  of  the  gospel,  were  daily  multi- 
plied; ministers  being  forward  and  willing  to  preach,  and 
the  people  willing  to  hear  and  receive  the  law  from  their 
mouth,  on  all  hazards.  And  the  Lord  Jesus,  following  his 
word  and  ordinances  with  his  blessing,  she w^ed  himself  as 
mighty  and  pow^erful  in  the  open  fields,  whither  they  were 
driven,  as  ever  he  had  done  in  their  churches,  from  whence 
they  w^ere  driven,  and  which  were  now  shut  against  them, 
filled  with  time-servers  and  anti-christ's  vassals.  But  against 
Christ's  standard  and  banner  thus  displayed,  the  tyrant 
Charles  II  erected  his  opposite  standard,  for  the  utter  de- 
struction of  Christ's  true  servants  and  subjects.  And  having 
declared  their  lawful  meetings  for  the  worship  of  God,  ac- 
cording to  his  w^ork,  execrable  rendezvouses  of  rebellion  ;  a 
convention  of  estates,  anno  1678,  was  called  and  met,  by 
which  a  large  cess  was  imposed  to  maintain  an  additional 
army  for  the  suppression  of  the  true  religion  and  liberty, 
and  securing  tyranny  and  arbitrary  government.  On  account 
of  the  imposition  of  this  cess,  and  the  rigorous  exaction  of  it, 


[83] 

together  with  the  cruelties  and  ravages  of  this  new  army 
maintained  by  it  the  soldiers  having  commission  to  dismiss 
and  disperse  their  meetings,  disarm,  imprison  and  kill  preach- 
ers and  people,  in  case  of  resistance  ;  and  a  price  being  put 
upon  the  heads  of  several  faithful  ministers,  if  brought  to 
the  council  dead  or  alive,  both  ministers  and  people  were 
laid  under  the  necessity  of  carrying  arms  for  their  own  de- 
fence when  dispensing  and  attending  upon  gospel  ordinances. 
And  it  was  no  wonder  that,  finding  themselves  thus  ap- 
pointed as  sheep  for  the  slaughter,  they  looked  upon  this  as 
their  duty,  and  accordingly  provided  themselves  with  arms 
for  their  necessary  defense  against  the  wicked  violence  of 
those  who  thirsted  after  their  blood,  and  (which  was  to  them 
much  more  dear  and  precious)  the  ruin  and  destruction  of  the 
cause,  interest,  and  gospel  of  Christ  in  the  land.  Unto  these 
severe  and  hellish  measures  fallen  upon,  at  this  time,  for  the 
more  effectual  suppression  and  extirpation  of  the  gospel  of 
Christ,  and  professors  of  it,  the  managers  were  principally  in- 
stigated by  that  arch-apostate  Sharp;  though  a  bad  prepar- 
ative for  his  exit  out  of  this  world,  which  soon  came  to  pass, 
anno  1679,  in  the  dispensation  of  adorable  providence  and 
righteous  judgment  of  God,  executed  upon  such  a  notorious 
traitor,  who,  having  first  betrayed  the  church,  and  all  along 
deeply  imbrued  his  hands  in  the  blood  of  God's  saints  and 
servants;  had  blood  given  him  to  drink  because  he  was 
worthy. 

8.  That  the  land  might  be  more  deeply  soaked  with  blood, 
and  made  more  heavily  to  groan  under  the  inhabitants  there- 
of, "  Who  had  transgressed  the  laws,  changed  the  ordinances, 
and  broken  the  everlasting  covenant  ;'^  that  the  scene  of 
cruel  suflfering  might  be  more  widely  opened,  and  the  bloody 
tragedy  more  effectually  acted ;  the  primate's  death  must 
now  be  added  to  the  other  pretended  crimes  of  the  sufferers. 
Many  were  terribly  harrassed  on  that  account,  who  were  no 
ways  concerned  in  the  action  ;  and  some  were  cruelly  tortured 
and  butchered  by  them  for  the  same  cause,  though  innocent 
thereof  (for  none  of  the  actors  did  ever  fall  into  their  hands). 
These  enemies  were  hereby  rendered  more  rude,  barbarous 
and  hard-hearted  to  all  the  sufferers  who  afterwards  fell  into 
their  hands,  and  breathed  out  threat nings  and  slaughter 
against  the  whole  body  of  the  persecuted  presbyterians 
through  the  nation.  All  this,  however,  did  not  dispirit 
these  zealous  witnesses,  or  discourage  them  from  attending 
to  their  work  and  duty  ;  for  we  find  them  on  the  29th  of 
May^  1679,  publishing  their  testimony  at  Rutherglen  against 
the  wicked  anniversary,  on  the  same  day  appginted  by  the 


[34] 

court  for  its  celebration,  and  against  all  that  had  been  done 
publicly  by  these  enemies  of  Christ  for  the  overthrow  of  his 
work  and  interest  in  the  lands.  They  likewise  committed 
their  acts  recissory,  supremacy,  act  restoring  abjured  prelacy, 
act  of  Glasgow^  1662,  the  presumptuous  act  for  appointing 
May  29th  for  an  unholy  anniversary,  indulgences,  etc.,  all  to 
the  flames,  their  just  desert,  in  retaliation  of  the  impious 
treatment  given  unto  our  solemn  and  sacred  covenants,  and 
other  good  and  laudable  acts  and  laws  for  reformation,  by 
their  sacrilegious  enemies  in  sundry  cities  of  these  covenanted 
kingdoms.  And  so,  after  extinguishing  the  bonfires,  a  part 
of  the  unholy  solemnity  of  the  enemies'  anniversary  day,  and 
concluding  what  they  had  done  with  prayer  and  praise,  as 
they  had  begun  (Mr.  Douglas^  one  of  their  ministers  being 
along  with  them)  they  withdrew.  This  christian  valor  was 
followed  with  the  Lord's  appearance  for  them,  in  a  remark- 
able manner,  on  the  following  Sabbath  at  Drumclogy  near 
Lowdonhill,  where  being  attacked  by  Glaverhouse^  when  at- 
tending on  public  worship,  they  completely  routed  him  and 
his  troops,  rescued  Mr.  John  King^  and  a  number  of  other 
prisoners,  whom  Claverhouse  had  seized  that  morning  from 
their  hands.  Afterward  they  declared  the  grounds  and 
causes  of  their  present  defensive  posture,  in  that  short  man- 
ifesto, or  declaration,  published  at  Glasgow^  June  6th,  1679. 
But  when  their  numbers  multiplied,  their  divisions  increased, 
and  lawful  means  for  honestly  defending  the  cause  were  by 
the  majority  refused.  Mr.  Welsh  and  that  Erastian  party 
with  him,  being  by  this  time  come  up,  did  in  their  declara- 
tion at  Hamilton^  take  in  the  tyrant's  interest ;  against  which 
those  who  were  honest  and  faithful  to  the  interest  of  Zion's 
king  contended  and  protested,  that  in  conscience  they  could 
not  take  in  the  interest  of  one  into  the  state  of  the  quarrel 
who  had  manifestly  stated  himself  in  opposition  to  the  in- 
terest of  Christ  ;  that  it  was  inconsistent  with  the  covenant, 
which  could  not  bind  them  to  espouse  the  interest  of  its  de- 
stroyers, and  the  destroyers  of  all  that  adhered  to  it ;  and  also 
contrary  to  their  testimony  and  declaration  for  the  covenants 
and  work  of  reformation  at  Riitherglen,  Glasgow,  etc.,  and 
against  all  defection  from  the  same. 

Thus,  when  the  most  part  in  a  great  measure  forsook  the 
Lord,  he  was  justly  provoked  to  forsake  them,  and  their 
great  divisions  landing  them  in  such  confusion,  they  became 
an  easy  prey  to  the  enemy,  by  whom  they  were  totally  routed 
at  Bothwell,  June  22d,  1679,  where  they  felt  the  dismal  fruits 
and  consequences  of  joining  at  all  with  that  Erastian  faction 
after  they  had  openly  declared  and  discovered  what  they 


[35] 

were.  This  was  so  far  from  proving  any  defence  to  them, 
notwithstanding  the  numbers  of  that  party,  that  it  proved 
their  destruction.  And  those  whose  hearts  were  upright 
and  honest  in  the  cause  of  God,  by  their  means,  in  holy  sov- 
ereignty, were  made  to  fall  a  sacrifice  to  their  enemies^ 
wrath.  The  slain  on  that  day  were  many,  and  the  after- 
cruelty  to  prisoners  great ;  they  being  carried  into  and  kept 
for  a  long  time  in  the  Gray-friars  church  yard  of  Edinburgh^ 
exposed,  defenseless,  night  and  day  to  tempests  of  all  kinds. 
By  this  inhuman  usage  (with  design  to  wear  out  the  saints 
of  the  Most  High),  together  with  the  insinuations  and  per- 
suasions of  some  of  the  indulgence-favorers,  their  faith  failing 
them  in  this  hour  of  temptation,  and  fear  prevailing,  a  num- 
ber of  these  prisoners  were  persuaded  to  take  the  insnaring 
bond  of  peace,  whereby  they  were  engaged  to  own  their  ris- 
ing at  Bothwell  to  be  rebellion,  and  to  oblige  themselves  never 
to  rise  in  arms  against  the  king,  and  to  live  peaceably,  etc., 
while  others  of  them  were  tortured,  not  accepting  deliver- 
ance. 

9.  Although  this  defeat  and  dispersion  of  the  espousers  of 
the  truth  and  cause  of  Christ,  in  opposition  both  to  his 
avowed  enemies  and  secret  betrayers,  brought  the  remnant 
that  were  left  into  very  melancholy  circumstances,  their 
enemies  having  in  a  great  measure  extinguished  the  light  of 
the  gospel,  by  apprehending  and  shedding  the  blood  of  their 
faithful  pastors,  who  used  to  hold  forth  the  word  of  life  unto 
them,  as  a  light  whereby  they  might  discern  between  sin 
and  duty ;  and  others  who  had  formerly  been  helpful  unto 
them,  in  strengthening  their  hands,  and  encouraging  their 
hearts,  in  the  way  of  their  duty,  were  overtaken  and  over- 
born with  fainting  and  discouragement ;  so  that,  in  respect 
of  public  guides,  they  were  at  this  time  as  sheep  without  a 
shepherd ;  yet,  in  this  disconsolate  and  scattered  state  and 
condition,  Christ,  the  chief  shepherd,  had  compassion  on 
them,  and  raised  up  those  two  faithful  ministers  and  zealous 
contenders  for  the  faith  once  delivered  to  the  saints,  Messrs. 
Richard  Cameron  and  Donald  Cargill,  to  come  forth  for  the 
help  of  the  Lord  against  the  mighty,  and  to  jeopard  their 
lives  along  with  his  people  in  the  high  places  of  the  field,  in 
bearing  faithful  testimony  for  his  noble  truths  and  cause,  and 
against  all  the  sins  and  defections  of  the  time.  The  first  of 
these,  soon  after  he  had  shewed  his  activity  and  zeal  in  that 
banner  displayed  against  the  church's  enemies,  in  the  decla- 
ration published  at  Sanquhar^  June  22d,  1680,  did  honorably 
and  bravely  finish  his  course,  among  many  others  of  Zion's 
true  friends,  in  the  defeat  they  again  sustained  at  Airsraoss, 


[36] 

where,  in  imitation  of  his  princely  Master,  he  valiantly 
fought  his  way  to  the  incorruptible  crown.  The  latter  after- 
ward narrowly  escaped  his  enemies'  hands  (by  means  of  Mr. 
Henry  Hall,  of  Haughhead,  that  honest  sufferer  for  truth, 
who,  to  save  his  minister's  life,  lost  his  own  ;  on  whom  the 
Queensferry  paper,  a  draft  of  a  covenant  engagement  unto 
certain  duties  was  found),  and  was,  by  the  power  and  provi- 
dence of  God,  preserved,  until  he  accomplished  that  signal 
piece  of  generation  work  in  drawing  forth  the  sword  of  ex- 
communication against  the  tyrant  Charles  II,  and  some 
others  of  the  chief  actors  in  that  bloody  tragedy.  And  that, 
because  of  their  blood-shed,  perjury,  heaven-daring  profane- 
ness,  debauchery,  inhuman  and  savage  cruelty  acted  upon 
the  people  of  God.  The  which  sentence  stuck  fast  in  the 
hearts  of  these  enemies  of  Zion's  king  unto  the  day  of  their 
death,  and,  by  some  of  their  own  acknowledgments,  would 
through  eternity.  Shortly  after  this,  that  faithful  minister 
crowned  his  work  with  martyrdom,  and  entered  into  his 
Master's  joy. 

This  murdering  period  spared  neither  pastor  nor  people, 
age  nor  sex  ;  while  gross  transgressors,  and  deluded  enthu- 
siasts, as  Gib  and  his  faction,  were  screened  from  condign 
punishment,  though  some  of  them  had  arrived  at  that  pro- 
digious length  in  wickedness  as  to  commit  the  holy  scrip- 
tures and  confession  of  faith  to  the  flames. 

10.  So  many  of  these  once  living  and  lively  witnesses  for 
Christ  being  now  slain,  and  what  was  yet  surviving  of  the 
scattered  flock  deprived  of  their  painful  shepherds,  and  not 
being  able  to  drink  of  the  sanctuary  waters,  so  muddied  by 
their  former  pastors,  who  had  defiled  the  same  by  sinful 
compliance  with  the  time's  defections,  they  resolved,  under 
divine  direction,  to  gather  themselves  together  into  a  gen- 
eral meeting,  for  advising  and  informing  one  another  anent 
their  duty,  in  such  critical  times  of  common  danger,  that  so 
whatever  concerned  the  whole,  might  be  done  with  due 
deliberation  and  common  consent.  The  which  general  meet- 
ings afterward  aftbrded  them  both  good  comfort  amidst 
their  discouragements,  and  also  good  counsel  amidst  their 
perplexities  and  doubts,  and  proved  an  excellent  expedient 
for  preserving  the  remnant  from  the  destruction  and  con- 
tagion of  the  times,  propagation  of  the  testimony,  and  keep- 
ing alive  the  public  spirit  of  zeal  and  concern  for  the  cause 
and  interest  of  Christ  ;  and  for  these  ends  they  have  been 
kept  up  ever  since. 

In  the  meantime,  that  evil  instrument,  James,  duke  of 
York,  receiving  commission  from  his  perjured  brother    to 


[37] 

preside  in  the  whole  administration  of  Scots'  affairs,  upon  his 
arrival  for  this  effect,  held  a  parliament,  which  began  July 
28th,  1681 ;  wherein,  besides  other  of  his  wicked  acts,  that 
detestable,  blasphemous,  and  self-contradictory  test  was 
framed,  which,  in  the  first  part  thereof,  contains  the  swear- 
er's solemn  declaration,  by  oath,  of  his  sincere  profession  of 
the  true  Protestant  religion,  contained  in  the  first  confession 
of  faith,  ratified  by  Pari.  Isi,  James  VI,  1567  (which  con- 
fession asserts,  in  the  strongest  terms,  Christ's  alone  head- 
ship and  supremacy  as  law-giver  and  King  in  his  church, 
without  co-partner  or  competitor),  and  that  he  shall  adhere 
thereunto  all  the  days  of  his  life,  and  renounce  all  doctrines, 
principles  or  practices  contrary  thereto,  and  inconsistent 
therewith ;  while  in  manifest  contradiction  thereto,  the 
blasphemous  supremacy,  in  the  utmost  extent  thereof,  is  as- 
serted, the  covenants  national  and  solemn  league,  the  chief 
barriers  against  popery,  Erastianism,  and  arbitrary  power,  are 
renounced,  and  unlimited  allegiance  unto  the  occupant  is  en- 
joined and  sworn  to,  and  the  prelatical  government  of  the 
church  confirmed. 

This  oath  was  at  first  administered  to  those  in  public  trust 
only,  and  thereby  all  were  turned  out  of  their  places  who 
had  any  principles  of  common  honesty  remaining  in  them  ; 
but  afterward  it  was  imposed  on  all  persons  of  all  ranks. 
Against  which  sinful  encroachments  on  religion  and  liberty, 
the  witnessing  persecuted  remnant  accounted  themselves 
bound  in  duty  to  emit  their  testimony,  which  they  published 
at  Lanerk.,  January  12th,  1682,  adhering  to,  and  confirming 
their  former  at  Sanquhar^  and  giving  reasons  at  length  for 
their  disowning  the  unlawful  authority  of  Charles  II,  Upon 
intelligence  hereof,  this  declaration,  with  those  at  Rather  glen 
and  Sanquhar^  were  by  order  of  the  council,  with  great  so- 
lemnity, burnt  at  the  cross  of  Edinburgh^  by  the  magistrates 
in  their  robes,  together  with  the  Solemn  League  and  Cove- 
nant, which  had  been  burnt  formerly :  but  now  they  would 
give  new  demonstrations  of  their  rage  against  it,  in  conjunc- 
tion with  these  declarations,  which  they  saw  and  acknow- 
ledged were  evidently  conformed  to,  and  founded  upon  it. 
After  the  publication  of  this  testimony,  the  sufferings  of 
that  poor  people  that  owned  it  were  sadder  and  sharper  than 
ever  before,  by  hunting,  pursuing,  apprehending,  imprison- 
ment, banishment,  death,  and  torture;  this  increasing  rage, 
oppression,  cruelty,  and  bloodshed,  being  no  more  than  what 
they  might  look  for,  agreeable  to  the  spirit  and  principles  of 
that  popish  incendiary,  to  whom  such  trust  was  committed. 

11.  The  poor  wrestling  remnant,  besides  their  other  grievous 


[88] 

calamities  and  sufferings,  beins;  now  obnoxious  to  much  cen- 
sure, in  their  appearances  for  truth  reproached,  and  invidi- 
ously misrepresented,  both  at  home  and  abroad,  by  those 
that  were  at  ease  in  Zion,  as  having  forsaken  the  right  way, 
and  run  into  wild,  extravagant,  and  unhappy  courses ;  and, 
withal,  being  at  this  time  destitute  and  deprived  of  their 
public  standard  bearers  ;  their  series  of  witnesses  (since  the 
death  of  Messrs.  Cameron  and  Cargill)  maintaining  the  testi- 
mony against  the  public  national  defections  being  in  all 
appearance  interrupted,  except  by  martyrdom  and  sufferings  ; 
they  were  obliged  to  exert  themselves,  both  for  their  vindi- 
cation from  those  calumnies  and  slanders,  wherewith  they 
were  loaded  by  their  enemies,  to  foreign  Protestant  churches 
especially,  and  for  obtaining  a  supply  of  gospel  ministers. 
Wherefore,  sending  some  of  their  number  abroad,  to  repre- 
sent the  righteousness  of  their  cause  to  the  churches  there, 
and  crave  their  sympath}^,  in  helping  them  to  a  supply  of 
gospel  ministers  ;  the  Lord  was  graciously  pleased  to  coun- 
tenance and  bless  their  endeavors  so,  that  they  obtained 
access  for  the  instruction  and  ordination  of  young  men  for 
the  ministry,  at  a  university  in  the  United  Provinces  ;  and, 
in  process  of  time,  gave  them  a  great  reviving  in  their  bon- 
dage, by  sending  forth  his  faithful  embassador,  Mr.  James 
Menwick^  who,  while  he  stood  on  Zion's  watch-tower,  ceased 
not  night  and  day  to  give  faithful  warning  of  the  danger 
approaching  the  city  of  G-od,  evidently  discovering  his  being 
clothed  with  his  Master's  commission,  in  bearing  faithful 
testimony  and  witness,  both  against  the  avowed  enemies  of 
truth  and  backsliders  from  it.  And  notwithstanding  all  the 
malicious  rage  of  deadly  foes,  ranging  and  keenly  pursuing 
him,  through  open  or  more  secret  places,  the  reproach  of 
tongues  and  cruel  mockings  he  endured,  by  the  divine  blessing, 
on  his  painful  labors,  amidst  his  many  hardships,  the  number 
of  Zion's  friends  were  greatly  increased,  by  the  incoming  and 
joining  of  many  to  the  fellowship  of  their  settled  societies, 
who  resolutely  chose  rather  to  suffer  affliction  with  the 
people  of  God  than  to  enjoy  the  pleasures  of  sin,  which  are 
but  for  a  season.  Upon  this  further  attack  upon  Satan's 
interest,  his  emissaries  issue  forth  fresh  orders,  and  give  com- 
mission to  soldiers,  foot  and  dragoons,  to  hunt,  search,  and 
seek  them  out  of  all  their  most  secret  dens,  caves,  and  lurking 
places,  where  they  might  hide  themselves,  in  the  most  remote 
and  w^ildest  glens  and  recesses  in  the  mountains  and  deserts, 
allowing  them  to  kill,  slay,  destroy,  and  any  way  to  make  an 
end  of  them,  wherever  they  might  be  found;  commanding 
the  whole  country,  at  their  peril,  to  assist  them,  and  raise  the 


[39] 

hue  and  cry  after  the  poor  wanderers,  and  not  to  reset,  harbor, 
succor,  or  correspond  with  them  any  manner  of  way,  under 
the  highest  pains,  but  to  do  their  utmost  in  informing 
against  them.  Thus,  without  regard  to  any  of  their  unlawful 
forms  of  legal  procedure,  they  defiled  and  besmeared  the 
high  places  of  the  field  with  innocent  blood.  These  un- 
precedented methods  and  measures  obliged  the  sufferers,  for 
their  own  preservation,  stopping  the  deluge  of  blood,  and  to 
deter  the  insolence  of  intelligencers  and  informers,  to  publish 
the  apologetic  declaration,  which  they  affixed  on  several 
market  crosses,  and  parish  church  doors,  upon  the  28th  ot 
October,  1684  ;  wherein  they  declare  their  firm  resolution  of 
constant  adherence  to  their  covenanted  engagements  ;  and  to 
the  declaration  disowning  the  authority  of  Charles  Stuart, 
warning  all  bloody  Doegs  and  flattering  Ziphites,  to  expect 
to  be  dealt  with  as  they  deal  with  them  ; '  to  be  regarded  as 
enemies  to  God,  and  the  covenanted  reformation,  and  ac- 
cording to  their  power,  and  the  degree  of  their  offense, 
punished  as  such,  &c.  After  this  declaration,  these  enemies 
were  still  more  enraged,  and  their  fury  flamed  more  than 
ever  formerly.  They  framed  an  oath,  commonly  called  an 
oath  of  abjuration,  renouncing  and  abjuring  the  same,  and 
by  a  venomous,  bloody  proclamation,  enjoined  this  oath  to 
be  taken  by  all  universally,  from  sixteen  years  and  upward, 
women  as  well  as  men,  under  pain  of  death ;  and  many 
prisoners  who  having  the  oath  tendered  them,  refused  or  de- 
clined it,  were  sentenced  and  executed  all  in  one  day, 
according  to  the  tenor  of  their  proclamation.  And,  more- 
over, they,  on  this  occasion,  renewed  their  orders  and 
commission  to  the  soldiers,  for  pursuing  and  chasing  after 
the  rebels  (as  they  designed  them)  more  vigorously  and  vio- 
lently, and  to  shoot,  or  otherwise  put  them  to  death  wherever 
they  did  light  upon  them.  In  the  midst  of  this  confusion  of 
slaughter  and  bloodshed,  God  cut  oft'  by  death,  February  6th, 
1685,  that  vile  person,  the  author  and  authorizer  of  all  this 
mischief,  Charles  II,  who,  Antiochiis  like,  came  in  peaceably, 
and  obtained  the  kingdom  by  flattery  {Dan.  xi),  reigned 
treacherously  and  bloodily,  and  like  that  wicked  king, 
Jehoram  (2  Chron.  xxi),  died  without  being  desired  or  la- 
mented, poisoned,  as  was  thought,  by  his  unnatural  popish 
brother.  And,  notwithstanding  of  all  his  bastards,  begotten 
in  adultery  and  fornication,  at  home  and  abroad,  he  died 
without  any  to  succeed  him,  save  him  that  was  said  to  have 
murdered  him.  God  pursued  him  with  the  curse  of  Hiel  the 
Bethelite,  for  his  rebuilding  of  that  cursed  Jericho,  prelacy ; 
and  of  that  impious  and  wicked  tyrant,  Coniah  {Jer.  xxii),  for 


[40] 

his  treachery  and  cruelty  ;  "  Thus  saith  the  Lord,  Write  ye 
this  man  childless,  a  man  that  shall  not  prosper  in  his  days, 
for  no  man  of  his  seed  shall  prosper,  sitting  any  more  upon 
the  throne  of  Israel.'' 

12.  Notwithstanding  the  abundant  proof  that  the  duke  of 
York  had  given,  in  many  instances,  and  in  both  kino;dom8, 
of  his  being  a  vassal  of  antichrist,  and  notwithstanding  of 
his  open  and  public  profession  of  papistry,  upon  his  brother's 
death,  fairly  warning  all  w^hat  they  might  expect,  yet  were 
not  those,  who  sat  at  the  helm  of  affairs,  deterred  from  com- 
mitting  the   reins   of    government   into    his    hands;    but, 
contrary  to  the  word  of  God,  and  fundamental  laws  of  the 
lands,  this  professed  and  excommunicated  papist  James,  duke 
of   York,  was,   ajmo   1685,   proclaimed   king   of  these  once 
covenanted,  but  now  treacherous  and  apostate  lands,  whereby 
they  appointed  themselves  a  captain  to  return  into  their  anti- 
christian  bondage.     To  this  grievous  yoke,  our   infamous, 
perjured,  and  apostate  state  and  council  in  Scotland,  heartily 
and  voluntarily  subjected  themselves  and  the  nation,  while 
others  did  it  with  reluctancy,  caressing  and  embracing  wdth 
their  dearest  and  best  affections,  this  enemy  to  God,  and 
Christ,  and  his  church,  swearing  implicit  and  unlimited 
obedience  unto  him,  and  asserting  his  absolute  power  and 
supremacy,  indefeasible  and  hereditary  rigiit,  without  ever  so 
much  as  requiring  him  to  take  the  coronation  oath,  or  give 
the  least  security  for,  any  thing  civil  or  religious  (a  depth  of 
degeneracy,  parallel  to  that  eminency  in  reformation  purity, 
from  which  they  were  fallen  I)  but  laid  the  reins  on  his  own 
neck,  that  he  might  have  full  freedom  for  the  satisfying  of 
his  lusts,  and  fulfilling  his  wicked  designs.     This  laid  reli- 
gion, liberty,  and  all,  at  the  mercy  of  absolute  power   and 
popish  tyranny ;  and  still  more  and  more  cut  off'  the  people 
of  God  from  having  any  hopes  of  mercy  from  their  bloody 
enemies  ;  on  the  contrary,  the  duke  of  York,  in  his  letter  to 
his  first  parliament,  recommends  and  requires  them  to  leave 
no   means   unattempted,   for  the  extirpation   of  ^  the   poor 
wandering  sufferers,  whom  he  brands  with  the  odious  names 
of  murderers  and  assassins,  wild  and  inhuman  traitors,  &c. 
And  these  his  ready  servants  and  bloody  executioners,  came 
nothing  short  of  his  orders  in  the  execution  of  them  ;  so  that 
that  there  were  more  murdered  in  cold  blood  in  the  open 
fields,  without  all   shadow   of  law,  trial   or  sentence,  more 
banished  and  sold  as  slaves,  condemned  and  executed,  &c.^ 
in  the  time   of  this   usurper,  than  in   all   the  time  of  the 
former  tyrant. 

As  the  honest  sufferers,  consistent  with  their  testimony 


[41] 

for  truth,  in  opposition  both  to  the  secret  and  open  sub- 
verters  of  the  cause  and  state  of  Zion's  quarrel  with  her 
enemies,  could  not  concur  in  Argyle's  declaration  (although 
there  were  many  things  in  it  materially  good,  and  commend- 
worthy),  nor  join  in  a  military  association  with  him,  on 
account  (among  other  things)  of  the  too  promiscuous  admis- 
sion of  persons  to  trust  in  that  party,  ^v\\o  were  then,  and 
afterward  discovered  themselves  to  be,  enemies  to  the 
cause.  Yet,  against  this  usurpation  of  a  bloody  papist, 
advancing  himself  to  the  throne  in  such  a  manner,  they 
published  another  declaration  at  Sanquhar^  May  28,  1685  ; 
wherein,  approving  of,  and  adhering  to  all  their  former, 
and  considering  that  James,  duke  of  York,  a  pro- 
fessed and  excommunicated  papist,  was  proclaimed :  they 
protest  against  said  proclamation,  with  reasons  subjoined  at 
length  for  their  so  doing — against  all  kinds  of  popery^ 
general  and  particular  heads,  as  abjured  by  the  national 
covenant — against  its  entry  again  into  this  land,  and  every 
thing  that  doth,  or  may  directly  or  indirectly,  make  way  for 
the  same,  &c.  After  this,  Mr.  Renwick  and  his  followers 
were  exposed  to  the  greater  fury  of  their  adversaries ;  more 
cruel  edicts  were  given  forth  against  them,  approving  and 
ratifying  of  former  acts,  for  raising  the  hue  and  cry,  &c., 
whereby  their  calamities  were  very  much  increased,  besides 
the  slanders  of  professed  friends,  on  account  of  their  not 
associating  and  joining  with  them  in  their  compliances,, 
although,  to  the  conviction  of  all  unbiassed  minds,  they 
fully  vindicated  themselves  from  all  their  injurious  reflections. 

The  extirpation  of  the  Presbyterian  interest — nay,  the 
suppression  of  the  Protestant  religion  in  general,  the  re- 
introduction  of  popery,  and  plunging  the  nations  in  anti- 
christian  darkness  and  tyranny,  being  the  long  concerted 
design  of  this  popish  bigot  now  got  into  the  throne;  he 
resolves  to  lose  no  time,  and  leave  no  stone  unturned,  for  the 
prosecution  and  accomplishment  thereof.  And  having  made 
tolerable  progress  in  the  execution  of  this  his  favorite  scheme 
(although  not  without  opposition),  in  England,  he  turns 
himself  to  Scotland,  expecting  an  entire  acquiescence  in  his 
pleasure  there,  having  found  the  first  parliament,  which 
began,  23d  May,  1685,  so  much  according  to  his  own  heart,, 
in  their  hearty  and  sincere  offer  of  their  lives  and  fortunes,  to 
assist,  defend,  and  maintain  him  in  his  rights,  prerogatives,, 
sacred,  supreme,  and  absolute  power  and  authority,  &c. 

Wherefore,  the  parliament  being  to  meet  again  A]pril  29,. 
1686,  in  his  letter  to  them,  "he  heartily  recommends  to  their 
care  his  innocent  Roman  Catholic  subjects,  to  the  end,  that 


[42] 

as  they  have  given  good  experience  of  their  true  loyalty  and 
peaceable  behavior,  they  may  have  the  protection  of  his  laws, 
without  lying  under  obligations  their  religion  could  not 
admit  of;  that  all  penal  laws  made  against  them  might 
be  repealed,  &c."  But  though  many  were  for  obliging  their 
king  in  this  particular,  yet  it  could  not  be  carried  without 
debates  and  strong  objections  ;  so  that,  dissolving  the  parlia- 
ment, what  he  could  not  obtain  there,  with  any  show  or 
face  of  law,  he  effectuates,  by  virtue  of  the  prerogative  royal 
and  absolute  power,  in  a  letter  to  his  privy  council,  and 
proclamation  inclosed,  bearing  date  February  12,  1687, 
granting  a  royal  toleration  to  moderate  Presbyterians,  clogged 
with  a  number  of  grievous  Erastian  conditions  and  restric- 
tions, as  usual.  Secondly,  to  Quakers  and  other  enthusiasts. 
Thirdly,  to  Papists,  abrogating  all  penal  statutes  made 
against  them,  and  making  them  in  all  respects  free.  And  so 
devoted  were  the  privy  council  to  his  interests,  that  without 
demur  they  published  the  proclamation,  and  wrote  back  to 
the  king,  "  that  his  orders  were  punctually  obeyed,  thanking 
him  for  this  further  proof  of  his  favors  to  all  his  subjects." 
Thus,  this  champion  for  Satan  and  antichrist  proceeded  with 
his  wicked  design,  and  so  far  succeeded  ;  all  kinds  of  papistry 
were  publicly  practiced,  and  many  churches  converted  to 
mass  chapels.  For,  before  this,  by  the  king's  letter  to  his 
privy  council,  of  August  21st,  1686,  papists  were  allowed  the 
free  exercise  of  their  religion,  the  council  required  to  support 
and  maintain  them  therein, and  the  royal  chapel  at  Holyrood- 
House  ordered  to  be  repaired  for  popish  service.  By  which 
means  a  door  was  opened  for  that  swarm  of  Jesuits  and 
priests,  ascending  as  locusts  out  of  the  bottomless  pit,  which 
quickly  overspread  the  lands.  But  notwithstanding  of  all 
this  indulgence  and  royal  toleration  granted  to  these  three 
forementioned  parties,  yet  there  is  no  favor  nor  mercy  for  the 
honest  and  faithful  sufferers,  and  honorable  contenders  for 
the  interests  and  prerogatives  royal  of  Jesus  Christ,  against 
his  sacrilegious  and  blasphemous  usurpation  of  the  same. 
But  while  he  thinks  fit  to  give  ease  (as  himself  says)  by  this 
means,  to  tender  consciences,  he  at  the  same  time  signifies 
his  highest  indignation  against  those  enemies  of  Christianity 
(he  means  popery)  as  well  as  government,  and  human  society, 
the  field-conventiclers,  whom  he  recommends  to  the  council 
to  root  out,  with  all  the  severity  of  the  laws,  and  the  most 
rigorous  prosecution  of  the  forces,  it  being  equally  his,  and 
his  people's  concern  to  get  rid  of  them.  In  consequence  of 
this,  all  their  artillery  is  directed  against  the  Kev.  Mr. 
Jaraes  Renwick  only,  and  that  poor,  afllicted,  and  persecuted 


[43] 

people  that  adhered  to  him  (all  others  being  comprehended 
in  the  pretended  liberty  granted),  so  that  they  were  prose- 
cuted with  fire  and  sword,  and  according  to  the  utmost 
severity  of  their  wicked  laws  made  against  them,  and  a 
reward  of  a  hundred  pounds  sterling  offered  by  the  bloody 
council  to  any  that  should  bring  in  Mr.  Renwick  to  them, 
either  dead  or  alive.  But  he  having  his  generation  work 
allotted  and  cut  out  for  him  by  God,  was  preserved  and  kept 
from  falling  into  their  hands,  until  that  he  had  finished  the 
work  his  Master  had  given  him  to  do,  notwithstanding  all  this 
hellish  and  antichristian  rage  and  fury  wherewith  they  did 
pursue  him.  About  the  beginning  of  the  year  1686,  he,  in 
conjunction  with  Mr.  Alexander  Shields,  who  had  lately 
joined  him,  wrote  the  Informatory  Vindication,  by  way  of 
reply  to  various  accusations  in  letters,  informations  and  con- 
ferences, given  forth  against  them  and  their  people,  wherein 
they  vindicate,  clear  and  justify  themselves  from  the  heavy 
and  false  charges,  slanders  and  reproaches,  cast  upon  them 
by  their  enemies,  as  may  be  seen  in  said  book.  About  this 
time,  also,  Mr.  Shields  set  about  writing  his  Hind  let  loose 
(which  was  published  next  year),  or,  A  Histor'cal  Representa- 
tion of  the  Testimonies  of  the  Church  of  Scotland  for  the 
interest  of  Christ,  with  the  true  state  thereof  in  all  its 
periods ;  wherein  he  also  solidly,  soundly,  and  judiciously 
vindicates  the  present  testimony,  in  all  the  principles  thereof, 
as  stated,  against  the  popish,  prelatical,  and  malignant 
enemies  of  that,  church,  for  the  prerogatives  of  Christ, 
privileges  of  the  church  and  liberties  of  mankind,  and 
sealed  by  the  sufi:erings  of  a  reproached  remnant  of  Presbyte- 
rians there,  witnessing  against  the  corruptions  of  the  time. 

Whilst  these  two  loving  and  faithful  fellow-laborers  were 
thus  industriously  exerting  themselves  for  the  propagation 
and  vindication  of  the  persecuted  gospel,  and  cause  of  Christ  ; 
that  fiery  Jesuit,  popish  tyrant,  and  enemy  to  God  and  man, 
the  duke  of  York,  and  his  popish  party,  were  equally  indus- 
trious, on  the  other  hand,  to  promote  their  grand  design 
of  utterly  extinguishing  the  light  of  the  gospel,  and  bringing 
in  antichrist,  with  all  his  poisonous  and  hellish  vermin,  and 
abominable  idolatries  ;  and  that,  with  all  the  murdering  vio- 
lence, diabolical  subtilty  and  malignant  rage  that  hell  and 
Borne  could  invent  and  exert.  He  had  formerly  published  a 
proclamation  (as  is  noticed  above),  granting  a  lawless  liberty 
to  several  sorts  of  persons  therein  specified,  called  his  first 
indulgence ;  but  breathing  nothing  but  threatenings  and 
slaughter  against  the  people  of  God,  who  stood  firm  to  his 
cause.     But  withal,  this  proclamation,  enjoined  an  oath  in 


[44] 

the  room  of  all  oaths  formerly  imposed,  to  be  taken  by  all 
that  minded  to  share  in  his  royal  favor;  wherein  they  swore, 
not  only  absolute  subjection  and  passive  obedience,  never  to 
resist  him,  not  only  on  any  pretense,  but  for  any  cause,  let 
him  do,  or  command  to  be  done  what  he  would ;  but  also, 
absolute,  active  obedience,  without  reserve:  "That  they 
shall,  to  the  utmost  of  their  power,  assist,  defend,  and  main- 
tain him,  his  heirs  and  successors,  in  the  exercise  of  their 
absolute  power  and  authority,  against  all  deadly."  This  was 
so  palpably  gross  and  odious,  that  it  was  disdained  and  ab- 
horred by  all  that  had  common  sense.  Wherefore,  finding 
that  this  proposal  did  not  take,  nor  answer  his  design,  in  a 
letter  to  the  council,  bearing  date  about  a  month  after  the 
former,  he  endeavors  to  mend  the  matter,  and  set  it  out  in 
another  dress,  pretending  that  they  had  mistaken  his  meaning 
in  the  former,  and  so  lets  them  know,  that  it  is  his  pleasure 
now,  that  if  the  Presbyterian  preachers  do  scruple  to  take 
the  oath  (contained  in  the  proclamation),  or  any  other  oath 
whatsoever,  they,  notwithstanding,  have  the  benefit  of  his 
indulgence  (without  being  obliged  to  take  the  oath),  pro- 
vided they  observe  the  conditions  on  which  it  was  granted. 
But  this  not  having  the  desired  effect  neither,  it  is  followed 
with  the  third  indulgence  or  toleration,  emitted  by  procla- 
mation, dated  28th  June^  1687,  excellently  well  calculated  for 
obtaining  his  end;  wherein,  after  a  solemn  declaration  of  his 
intention  to  maintain  his  archbishops  and  bishops,  he  does, 
by  his  sovereign  authority,  prerogative  royal,  and  absolute 
power,  suspend,  stop  and  disable,  all  penal  and  sanguinary 
laws,  made  against  any  for  non-conformity  to  the  religion 
established  by  law — granting  liberty  to  all  the  subjects  to 
meet  and  serve  God,  after  their  own  way,  in  private  houses 
or  chapels,  or  places  purposely  hired  or  built  for  that  use, 
with  an  injunction  to  take  care  that  nothing  be  preached  or 
taught,  that  might  any  way  tend  to  alienate  the  hearts  of 
the  people  from  him  and  his  government :  but,  notwithstand- 
ing the  premises,  strictly  prohibiting  all  field  meetings, 
against  all  which  all  his  laws  and  acts  of  parliament  are  left 
in  full  force  and  vigor;  and  all  his  judges,  magistrates  and 
officers  of  forces,  commanded  to  prosecute  such  as  shall  be 
guilty  of  said  field  conventicles,  with  the  utmost  rigor;  and 
all  this  under  pretense,  that  now,  after  this  his  royal  grace 
and  favor,  there  is  not  the  least  shadow  of  excuse  letl  for 
these  meetings.  Wherefore,  he  is  confident,  that  none  will, 
alter  these  liberties  and  freedoms  given  to  all,  to  serve 
God  in  their  own  way,  further  presume  to  meet  in  these 
assemblies,  except  such  as  make  a  pretense  of  religion,  to 


[45] 

cover  their  treasonable  designs  against  his  royal  person,  and 
peace  of  his  government.  _  -0.1^^1 

The  most  of  the  Presbyterian  mmisters  in  Scotland  took 
the  benefit  of  this  wicked  and  boundless  toleration,  chiefly 
desio-ned  in  favors  of  papists.     And  a  large  number  of  them 
bein%  met  at  Edinburgh,  agreed  upon,  and,  in  name  ot  ail 
the  ?est,  sent  an  address  of  thanks   to   the   tyrant   for  his 
toleration,  stuffed  with  the  most  loathsome  and  blasphemous 
flatteries,  to  the  dishonor  of  God,  the  reproach  of  his  cause, 
and  betraying  of  his  church  ;  for,  in  this  address,  dated  Ju/.y 
21st  1687,  designating  themselves  the  loyal  subjects  of  this 
true'reli^ion  and  liberty-destroyer,  they  otter  him  their  most 
humble  and  hearty  thanks  for  his  favor  bestowed,  and  bless 
the  crreat  God  who  put  it  into  his  heart  to  grant  them  this 
liberty,   which    they   term  a  great   and    surprising    favor, 
professino-   a   fixed   resolution   still   to  maintain  an    entire 
loyalty,  both  in  their  doctrine  and  practice  (consonant  to 
their  known  principles,  which,  according  to  the  holy    scrip- 
tures, are  contained   in  the   Confession  of  Faith))  and  they 
humbly  beseech,  that  any  who  promote  disloyal  principles 
and  practices  (as  they  disown  them),   may  not  be  looked 
upon  as  any  of  theirs,  whatever  name  they  may  assume  to 
themselves;    and   that,   as   their   address   comes   from   the 
plainness  and  sincerity  of  loyal  and  thankful  hearts,  so  they 
were  much  engaged,  by  his  royal  favor,  to  continue  their 
fervent  prayers  to^the  King  of  kings,  for  divine  illumination 
and  conduct,  and  all  other  blessings,  both  spiritual  and  tem- 
poral, ever  to  attend  his  person  and  government,  etc.     Ihus 
these  men  made  themselves  naked  to  their  shame,  and  de- 
clared to  the  world  that  they  did  not  only  presumptuously 
arroo-ate  to  themselves  the  name  of  presbyterians  ;  whereas, 
in  reality,  they  were  quite  another  kind  of  creatures,  acting 
diametrically  opposite  to  presbyterian  principles,  in  congra- 
tulating, extolling  and  justifying  a  tyrant,  for  assuming  to 
himselt^a  blasphemous  absolute  power,  whereby  he  suspends 
and  disables  all  penal  laws  against  idolators,  and  gives  a 
toleration  for  all  errors.  ,  1        n     1 

But  whilst  these  pretended  presbyterians,  who  all  along 
loved  peace  better  than  truth,  and  preferred  their  own  ease 
before  the  concerns  of  their  Master's  glory,  were  thus  shelt- 
ering  themselves  under  this  refuge  of  lies,  true  presbyterians 
who  kept  by  presbvterian  principles,  and  acted  a  taithtui 
part  for  Christ,  refusing  to  bow  down  to  the  idol  of  suprem- 
acy,  which  the  tyrant  had  set  up,  or  pay  any  regard  to 
his  blasphemous  toleration,  were  pursued,  persecuted,  and 
slain,  without   pity  or   compassion,  all   the   engines   of  the 


[46] 

court  being  levelled  against  them  for  their  destruction,  be- 
cause they  would  still  reserve  to  themselves  the  liberty 
wherewith  Christ  had  made  his  people  free,  and  not  exchange 
it  for  one  from  anti-christ,  restricted  with  his  reserves  and 
limitations ;  so  that  (as  Mr.  Shields  tells  us  in  his  account  of 
Mr.  James  Renwick's  life),  in  less  than  five  months  after  the 
toleration,  there  were  fifteen  most  desperate  searches  parti- 
cularly for  him,  both  of  foot  and  horse ;  and  that  all  encour- 
agement might  be  given  to  any  who  would  apprehend  him, 
a  proclamation  was  issued,  dated  October  18th,  "  Authorizing 
"  all  officers,  civil  and  military,  to  apprehend  and  secure  in 
"  firmance  his  person,  with  some  others  ;  and  for  encourage- 
"  ment,  ensuring  the  sum  of  100/.  sterling  for  taking  him, 
"or  them,  dead'or  alive."  In  the  midst  of  all  these  hazards, 
this  unwearied  and  faithful  laborer  did  notwithstanding 
continue  at  his  work,  in  preaching,  catechising,  etc.,  and  the 
Lord  still  preserved  him  from  falling  into  the  enemy's  hand, 
until  he  had  finished  that  piece  of  generation  work,  in  draw- 
ing up  a  full  and  faithful  testimony  against  For A:'5  toleration, 
and  for  the  covenants  and  w^ork  of  reformation,  etc.,  which 
he  gave  in  to  a  meeting  of  presbyterian  ministers  at  Edin- 
burgh^ on  the  17th  of  January^  1688 ;  and  going  thence  to 
Fife^  whither  he  was  called  to  preach,  in  his  return,  was  ap- 
prehended at  Edinburgh^  and  called  to  seal  his  above  testi- 
mony, with  all  his  other  contendings  against  popery,  prelacy, 
Erastianism,  and  all  defection  from  the  land's  attainments 
in  reformation,  with  his  blood,  which  he  did  in  the  Grass- 
market  oi  Edinburgh,  17th  oi  February,  1688,  with  a  remark- 
able and  extraordinary  measure  of  the  Lord's  gracious  pre- 
sence and  spirit,  not  only  in  this  part  of  his  sufierings,  but 
all  the  time  of  his  imprisonment.  The  Lord  hereby  bearing 
witness,  both  to  the  truth  of  that  cause  for  which  he  suftered, 
and  also  testifying  his  gracious  acceptance  of  his  suti:erings, 
and  of  the  free-will-ofi:ering  of  his  life,  which  he  laid  down 
for  his  sake.  And  as  neither  the  violence  nor  flattery  of 
enemies  could  prevail  with  this  faithful  confessor  and  martyr 
himself,  to  quit  with  one  hair  or  hoof  of  what  belonged  to 
Christ  ;  so  he  recommended  to  the  poor  scattered  remnant 
which  he  left,  as  part  of  his  dying  counsel,  to  keep  their 
ground,  and  not  to  quit  nor  forego  one  of  these,  despised 
truths,  which  he  was  assured  the  Lord,  when  he  returned  to 
bind  up  the  breach  of  his  people,  and  heal  them  of  their 
wound,  would  make  glorious  in  the  earth.  Thus  that  worthy 
minister,  and  now  glorified  martyr  of  Jesus,  through  a  chain 
of  sufierings,  and  train  of  enemies,  fought  his  way  unto  an 
incorruptible  and  immortal  crown  of  endless  glory.    He  was 


[47] 

the  last  that  sealed  the  testimony  for  religion  and  liberty, 
and  the  covenanted  work  of  reformation,  against  popery, 
prelacy,  Erastianism,  and  tyranny,  in  a  public  manner,  on 
the  scaffold,  with  his  blood.  After  the  death  of  this  re- 
nowned martyr,  he  was  succeeded  by  the  eminent  Mr.  Alex- 
ander Shields,  who  carried  on,  and  maintained  the  testimony, 
as  it  was  stated,  in  all  the  heads  and  clauses  thereof,  contin- 
uing to  preach  in  the  fields.  On  which  account,  he,  and  the 
people  who  attended  his  ministry,  were  exposed  for  some 
time  longer  to  the  fury  and  resentment  of  their  enemies. 
But  their  power,  which  they  had  so  long  perverted  and 
abused,  quickly  came  to  a  period  ;  for  in  a  few  months,  G-od, 
in  his  righteous  judgment  and  adorable  providence,  over- 
turned that  throne  of  iniquity  on  which  they  depended,  and 
expelled  that  inhuman,  cruel  monster,  from  his  tyrannical 
and  usurped  power,  upon  the  Prince  of  Orange's  coming  over 
into  England,  in  the  beginning  of  November  that  same  year. 
But,  although  the  Lord  at  this  juncture,  and  by  this  means, 
rescued  and  delivered  our  natural  and  civil  rights  and  priv- 
ileges in  a  national  way,  from  under  the  ©ppression  and 
bondage  of  anti-christian  tyranny,  arbitrary  and  absolute 
power ;  yet  the  revolution,  at  this  time,  brought  no  real  de- 
liverance to  the  church  of  God  ;  but  Christ's  rights,"^  form- 
erly acquired  for  him  by  his  faithful  servants,  lay  still  buried 
under  the  rubbish  of  that  anti-christian  building  of  prelacy, 
erected  on  the  ruins  of  his  work  in  this  land;  and  the  spirit- 
ual liberties  and  privileges  of  his  house  remained,  and  do 
still  remain  under  the  bondage  of  Erastianism,  supremacy, 
toleration,  etc.  For  it  is  well  known,  that  although  this 
man,  JeAu-like,  "  destroyed  Baal  out  of  Israel,  yet  he  depart- 
"  ed  not  from  the  sins  of  Jeroboam,  wherewith  he  made  Israel 
"  to  sin." 

About  this  time,  the  united  societies  (having  no  actual 
minister  since  Mr.  Renwick's  death,  Mr.  Shields  being  only 
preacher)  sent  over  some  commissioners  from  their  general 
meeting  to  Embden,  one  of  the  united  provinces,  to  bring 
over  Mr.  Thomas  Linning,  a  young  man  whom  they  had 
sent  thither  some  years  before  in  Mr.  Renwick's  time,  to  the 
university  there,  and  for  ordination.  In  consequence  hereof, 
the  said  Mr.  Linning  came  home,  with  testimonials  of  his 
ordination  to  the  ministry  by  the  classes  of  Embden;  and  in 
conjunction  with  Mr.  Shields  and  Mr.  William  Boyd  (another 

*  Christ's  rights,  etc.  By  these  are  not  meant  the  rights  of  Christ  per- 
sonal. It  is  not  in  the  power  of  mortals,  or  any  creature,  to  acquire  and 
secure  these  to  him  ;  but  the  rights  of  Christ  mystical,  that  is,  of  the  church, 
or,  of  his  truth,  true  worship,  and  religion,  and  professors  of  it  as  such. 


[48] 

of  their  ministers,  who  had  also  come  from  Holland  about 
this  time)  renewed  the  covenants  national  and  solemn  league, 
and  dispensed  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  supper  near  Les- 
mahago  in  Clydesdale^  and  continued  to  preach  to  the  people 
for  about  four  months,  till  the  first  general  assembly  (so-called) 
met  at  Edinburgh^  1689-90.     At  which  time,  he,  with 

his  two  brethren,  in  their  own  name,  and  the  name  of  their 
people,  presented  a  paper  to  that  assembly,  bearing  on  what 
terms  they  and  their  people  would  join  in  communion  with 
them ;  only  craving,  that  they  might  all  join  in  humbling 
themselves  before  the  Lord,  and  acknowledge  and  bewail 
their  fathers',  their  own,  and  the  land's  many  and  heinous 
iniquities,  and  breaches  of  covenant  before  they  proceeded  to 
any  other  business,  and  so  have  their  public  sins,  and  scan- 
dalous compliances  washed  away  by  repentance,  and  calling 
upon  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus.  That  they  would  purge 
out  from  among  them  all  ignorant,  insufficient,  heter- 
odox, and  notoriously  scandalous  ministers,  such  as  by 
information,  accusation,  or  otherwise,  were  guilty  of  the 
blood  of  the  saints,  etc.  But  these  proposals  w^ere  reckoned 
unseasonable  and  impracticable,  tending  rather  to  kindle 
contention,  than  compose  division,  and  so  were  thrown  over 
their  bar.  The  generality  of  these  men  were  so  plunged  and 
puddled  in  the  ditch  of  defection  and  apostacy,  that  they 
could  not  think  of  the  drudgery  of  cleansing  themselves  in 
God's  way,  by  a  particular  and  public  confession  of,  and 
humiliation  for  their  own  and  the  land's  public  sins,  but 
chose  rather  to  sit  down  filthy  and  polluted  as  they  were, 
and  presume,  in  the  midst  of  their  abominations  unrepented 
of,  to  approach  God's  holy  things,  which,  how  provoking  to 
heaven,  let  God  in  his  word  be  judge,  Isa.  lii.  11.  Hag.  ii, 
13, 14.  2  Chr.  xxx.  4.  EzeL  xliv.  10.  N'ay,  it  is  but  too, 
too  evident,  that  for  this  cause,  God  then  laid  them  under 
that  awful  sentence.  Rev.  xxii.  11 :  "  Him  that  is  filthy,  let 
''  him  be  filthy  still ; "  or  that,  Isa.  xxii.  14.  For  as  their 
hearts  were  then  hardened  against  God's  call  by  his  word 
and  providence  to  that  important  and  most  necessary  duty  ; 
so,  ever  since,  they  have  been  so  much  the  more  so,  and  have 
gone  on  from  evil  to  worse. 

But  to  return  to  our  purpose:  The  two  brethren,  Messrs. 
Linning  and  Boyd^  upon  the  rejection  of  the  above  said 
paper  of  proposals,  intending  to  unite  with  them  at  any  rate, 
gave  in  another,  importing  their  submission  to  the  assembly  ; 
which  paper,  Mr.  Sheilds  also,  through  their  influence,  in- 
sinuations and  persuasions,  was  drawn  to  subscribe  and  ad- 
here to  ;  which  he  had  never  done,  had  he  not  fallen,  by  the 


[49] 

means  of  these  false  brethren,  and  which,  it  is  said,  he  sadly 
repented  afterward.  Thus,  the  poor  people  were  again  left 
destituteof  ministers,  and  public  gospel  ordinances,  until  the 
Rev.  Mr.  John  MacMlUan  acceded  to  them,  from  the  public 
judicatories  of  the  revolution  church,  in  the  year  1706.  And 
their  kind  friend,  Mr.  Linning^  to  make  amends  for  all  his 
misdemeanors,  and  in  return  for  the  charges  the  societies 
were  at  about  his  education,  at  home  and  abroad,  did  them 
that  good  office,  to  write  and  load  them  with  calumnies  and 
slanders,  to  the  universities  in  the  Netherlands^  whither  they 
had  recourse  formerly  in  like  cases;  so  that  all  access  for  having 
their  loss  retrieved  from  that  quarter,  was  blocked  up. 

What  is  thus  briefly  hinted  above,  may  suffice  to  afford 
some  cursory  view  of  the  rise  and  progress  of  religion  and 
reformation  in  these  lands,  especially  in  Scotland;-  until  as  a 
church  and  nation,  our  kingdom  became  the  Lord's,  by  the 
strictest  and  most  intimate  federal  alliance,  and  the  name 
almost  of  every  city,  was,  the  Lord  is  there :  together  with 
the  general  state  and  condition  of  the  church  and  land,  from 
the  fatal  juncture  of  our  woful  decline,  unto  the  end  of  the 
above  mentioned  bloody  period  ;  the  faithfulness  of  some,  in 
this  time  of  trial  and  temptation ;  the  defection  and  back- 
sliding course  of  others ;  and  the  great  and  avowed  wicked- 
ness of  the  rest,  extended  unto  an  exorbitant  height  of  savage 
inhumanity,  irreligion  and  impiety.  Upon  atl  which  the 
presbytery,  in  duty  to  God,  the  present  and  succeeding  gen- 
erations, find  themselves  obliged  to  testify  : — 

1.  Their  hearty  approbation  of  the  faithfulness  of  such- 
ministers  and  others,  who  opposed  and  faithfully  testified 
against  the  public  resolutions  of  church  and  state,  framed  in 
the  year  1651,  for  receiving  into  places  of  power  and  trust, 
malignant  enemies  to  the  work  of  reformation,  contrary  to 
the  word  of  God,  Exod.  xviii,  21 ;  Dent,  i,  13;  2  Chron.  xix, 
2 ;  and  to  all  acts  of  assembly  and  parliament  in  the  reform- 
ing period ;  the  assembly  disclaiming  the  resolutions,  as 
appears  from  their  act,  Jt^ne  17th,  1646,  session  14th,  entitled. 
Act  for  censuring  the  compilers  with  the  jndAic  enemies  of  this 
church  and  kingdom :  and  their  seasonable  and  necessary 
warning,  June  27th,  1649,  session  27th  ;  where  "  they  judge 
"  it  a  great  and  scandalous  provocation,  and  grievous  defect- 
"  ion  from  the  public  cause,  to  comply  with  these  malignants, 
"  &c."  As  also,  Act  11th,  Triennial  Parliament  of  Charles  I, 
entitled,  Act  for  purging  the  army  of  disaffected  persons  to  the 
covenant  and  work  of  reformation.  And  the  faithful  warnings, 
given  by  general  assemblies  and  parliament,  even  against  tlie 
admission  of  Charles  II  to  the  regal  dignity,  when  so  evi- 


[50] 

dently  discovering  his  disingeiiuity,  until  once  he  should 
give  more  satisfying  proof  of  his  sincerity  ;  see  act  of  the 
commission  at  the  West  Kirk,  August  13th,  1650,  where  the 
commission  of  the  general  assembly,  considering,  that  there 
may  be  just  ground  of  stumbling,  from  the  king's  majesty's 
refusing  to  emit  the  declaration  oliered  him  by  the  commit- 
tee of  estates,  and  the  commission  of  the  general  assembly, 
concerning  his  former  carriage,  and  resolution  for  the  future, 
in  reference  to  the  cause  of  God,  and  enemies  and  friends 
thereof ;  doth  therefore  declare,  ''  That  this  kirk  and  king- 
dom do  not  espouse  any  malignant  party,  quarrel,  or  in- 
terest, but  that  they  fight  merely  upon  their  former  grounds 
and  principles,  and  in  the  defense  of  the  cause  of  God,  and 
of  the  kingdom,  as  they  have  done  these  twelve  years  past ; 
and  therefore,  as  they  disclaim  all  the  sin  and  guilt  of  the 
king  and  of  his  house,  so  they  will  not  own  him  nor  his  in- 
terest, otherwise  than  with  a  subordination  to  God,  and  so 
far  as  he  owns  and  prosecutes  the  cause  of  God,  and  disclaims 
his,  and  his  father's  opposition  to  the  work  of  God,  and  to 
the  covenant,"  &c.  The  which  declaration  being  seen  and 
considered  by  the  committee  of  estates,  was  the  same  day 
approven  by  them.  Thus,  both  church  and  state  exerted 
themselves  in  the  discharge  of  their  duty,  in  order  to  obtain 
a  settlement,  according  to  the  word  of  God,  and  the  covenants, 
which  were  now  become  the  magna  charta  of  the  privileges 
and  liberties  of  the  nations,  both  civil  and  religious  ;  and 
therefore,  were  sworn  to  and  subscribed  by  Charles  II,  as  was 
also  the  coronation  oath,  for  the  security  and  preservation  of 
the  true  religion,  at  his  receipt  of  the  royal  power. 

2.  The  presbytery  testify  and  declare  their  approbation  of 
the  conduct  of  the  faithful,  before  the  restoration,  who,  ad- 
hering to  the  foresaid  fundamental  constitutions  of  the 
nations,  both  refused  subjection  unto,  and  testified  against 
the  usurpation  of  Oliver  Cromwell  and  his  accomplices,  his 
invading  the  land,  his  anti-christian  toleration  of  all  sectar- 
ian errors  and  heresies,  threatening  the  ruin  and  destruction 
of  the  true  religion,  as  well  as  liberty.  This  was  particularly 
testified  against  by  the  synod  of  Fife,  and  others,  in  con- 
junction with  them,  as  wicked  and  intolerable;  as  opposite 
unto,  and  condemned  by,  the  scriptures  of  truth,  Job.  xxxiv, 
17;  Dent,  xiii,  1-12;  Zech.  xiii,  3;  contrary  to  acts  of  as- 
sembly and  parliament,  made  against  malignants,  their  being 
received  into  places  of  power  and  trust,  with  whom  these 
sectarians  were  compliers,  such  as  Act  16th  of  Assemb.  1646, 
Sess.  13th,  Act  26th,  Sess.  2d.  parliament,  Charles  I,  &c. 


[51] 

3.  The  presbyter}^  do  hereby  heartily  approve  and  homolo- 
gate the  testimony  borne  unto  the  truths  and  royal  preroga- 
tives of  Christ,  as  King  of  Zion,  by  the  witnesses  and 
martyrs  for  the  same,  from  the  restoration,  anno  1660,  to  the 
late  revolution,  by  protestations,  declarations,  confiscation  of 
goods,  bonds,  imprisonment,  banishment,  all  kinds  of  cruelty 
and  suifering,  even  unto  the  death  (as  noticed  above),  by  the 
impious  revolters  from  the  righteous  laws  of  God,  and  over- 
turners  of  the  just  and  equitable  laws  of  men,  both  sacred 
and  civil ;  to  the  maintenance  whereof,  the  greatest  part  of 
these  transgressors  had  bound  themselves  by  the  most  sacred 
and  inviolable  obligations,  which  made  their  wickedness  the 
more  daring  and  aggravated,  and  the  testimony  of  the  saints 
against  such  as  had  made  themselves  so  vile  in  the  sight  of 
God  and  all  good  men,  the  more  justifiable.  Psalm  cxix, 
139:  "My  zeal  hath  consumed  me,  because  mine  enemies 
have  forgotten  thy  words."  And  as  the  doers  of  the  law 
have  the  promise  of  justification  by  the  great  Legislator, 
Royn.  ii,  13,  so  they  ought  to  have  the  approbation  of  his 
people  for  doing  his  will. 

And  as  the  Spirit  discovers  the  church's  duty  not  to  con- 
sist only  in  bearing  witness  unto  the  truth,  and  justifying 
Christ's  confessors  and  martyrs,  in  their  faithful  adherence 
unto  it,  but  also  in  testifying  against  sin,  and  condemning 
the  wicked  for  their  wickedness ;  for  which,  also,  we  have 
the  precedent  of  the  reformed  and  covenanted  church  of 
Scotland^  both  before  and  during  the  defection  and  wickedness 
of  the  forementioned  period.  Likeas,  the  presbytery  did, 
and  hereby  to  declare  and  testify  particularly : — 

1.  Against  that  prime  and  leading  step  of  defection,  the 
public  resolutions,  a  scheme  projected  by  that  arch  hypo- 
crite and  traitor  to  God,  Charles  II,  for  the  reintroduction 
of  men  of  the  same  wicked  and  malignant  spirit  with  him- 
self, into  places  of  public  trust  in  the  nation — men,  the  most 
of  whom  had  been  formerly  excommunicated  by  the  church, 
and  excluded  from  all  ofiice-bearing  in  the  commonwealth, 
by  the  states,  in  their  act  of  classes,  as  being  avowed  and 
obstinate  enemies  to  God  and  to  their  country.  Which 
scheme,  approven  of  and  put  in  execution,  with  the  consent 
of  a  corrupt  part  of  the  ministry  of  the  church,  called 
afterward  resolutioners,  made  way  for  that  sad  and  bloody 
catastrophe,  which  after  befel  the  poor  church  of  Christ  in 
this  land. 

2.  They  declare  and  testify  against  the  usurpation  of 
Oliver  Cromwell^  with  those  who  subjected  themselves  unto, 
and  owned,  his  authority ;  against  his  treacherous  invasion 


[52] 

of  this  land,  contrary  to  the  public  oaths  and  vows,  and  cove- 
nant union  of  the  nations ;  together  with  his  sectarian 
principles,  and  wicked  toleration,  then  obtruded  upon  them. 

3.  They  declare  and  testify  against  the  restoration  of 
Charles  II,  1660,  under  the  government  of  these  covenanted 
lands,  after  he  had  so  plainly  discovered  his  spirit  and  de- 
signs, in  the  matter  of  the  public  resolutions.  On  account 
of  which  treacherous  and  double  dealing  with  God  and  man, 
he  was,  in  the  Lord's  holy  and  adorable  providence,  justly 
secluded  from  the  government,  and  lived  an  exile  for  the  space 
often  years  ;  but,  by  means  of  his  malignant  public  resolution- 
friends,  he  was  again,  by  might,  though  not  of  right,  restored, 
without  so  much  as  his  adherence  sought  to  those  oaths, 
which  he  had  formerly  so  solemnly  sworn.  Add  to  this  the 
church's  sinful  silence,  through  the  influence  of  the  back- 
slidden resolution  party  therein,  so  that,  at  the  convention  of 
the  pretended  parliament,  anno  1661,  consisting  mostly  of 
persons  of  known  disaifection  to  the  true  religion,  elected  of 
purpose  to  serve  the  king's  traitorous  designs,  there  was  not 
so  much  as  a  protestation  for  civil  or  religious  liberties  and 
privileges  offered  thereunto ;  but  the  vile  person  (as  he  after- 
ward fully  declared  himself)  was  peaceably,  though  illegally, 
exalted. 

4.  As  the  presbytery  find  themselves  in  duty  bound  to 
testify  against  this  most  unhappy  restoration  of  Charlies  II, 
so,  of  necessary  and  just  consequence,  they  declare  against 
the  whole  of  his  usurped  and  tyrannical  administration — 
particularly  against  his  blasphemous  and  heaven-daring  eccle- 
siastical supremacy ;  against  the  act  recissory,  declaring  null 
and  void  the  covenants,  presbyterian  church  government, 
and  all  the  laws  made  in  favor  of  the  true  religion  since  the 
year  1638;  the  wicked  anniversary  thanksgiving  day,  in 
memory  of  the  restoration  ;  the  re-establishment  of  diocesan 
and  Erastian  prelacy  ;  his  publicly  and  ignominiously  burning 
of  our  solemn  covenants,  after  pretending  to  nullify  their 
obligation ;  with  all  his  cruelty,  tyranny,  oppression  and 
bloodshed,  under  color,  and  without  form,  of  law,  exercised 
upon  the  Lord's  people,  during  the  whole  of  his  reign. 

5.  They  again  testify  against  the  treachery  of  these  cove- 
nanted lands,  in  their  advancing  (contrary  to  our  solemn 
covenants  and  all  law  and  reason)  James,  duke  of  York,  sl 
professed  papist,  and  avowed  malicrnant  to  the  throne  of 
these  realms.  As  also,  they  testify  against  his  Christ- 
dethroning  supremacy,  and  antichristian  indulgences  aiid 
toleration,  flowing  from  that  wicked  fountain ;  his  horrid 


[53] 

and  cruel  massacreing  and  murdering  of  the  saints  and  ser- 
vants of  the  Most  High;  with  all  his  other  wickedness 
briefly  specified  in  the  foregoing  narrative. 

Upon  the  whole,  the  presbytery  declare  and  testify  against 
all  the  affronts  done  unto  the  Son  of  God,  and  open  attacks 
made  upon  his  crown  and  kingdom ;  all  the  diiferent  steps  of 
apostasy  from  a  work  of  reformation,  and  all  the  hellish 
rage  and  cruelty  exercised  against  the  people  of  God  during 
the  foresaid  period  of  persecution,  carried  on  by  these  two 
impious  brothers. 


PART   11. 

Containing  tlie  grounds  of  the  presbytery's  testimony  against  tlie  constitu- 
tions, both  civil  and  ecclesiastical,  at  the  late  Revolution,  anno  1G89  ;  as 
also  against  the  gross  Erastianism  and  tyranny  that  has  attended  the 
administration  both  of  church  and  state,  since  that  memorable  period  ; 
with  various  instances  thereof,  etc. 

After  the  Lord,  for  the  forementioned  space  of  twenty- 
eight  years,  had,  because  of  their  manifold  sins,  sorely  plagued 
this  church  and  nation  with  the  grievous  yoke  of  prelatical 
tyranny,  bloodshed,  oppression  and  fiery  persecution,  and 
thereby  had  covered  the  daughter  of  Zion  with  a  cloud  in 
his  anger,  and  cast  down  from  heaven  unto  the  earth  the 
beauty  of  Israel,  and  had  thrown  down  in  his  wrath  the 
strong  holds  of  the  daughter  Judah,  yea,  brought  them 
down  even  to  the  ground ;  he  was  pleased  in  his  holy  sov- 
ereignty, to  put  a  stop  to  that  barbarous  cruelty  that  was 
exercised  upon  his  people,  at  the  last  national  Revolution, 
by  the  instrumentality  of  the  prince  and  princess  of  Orange; 
which  is  the  more  remarkable,  in  that  those  whom  the 
Lord  employed  as  the  rod  of  his  anger,  to  strike  off  that 
monstrous  tyrant  Jaraes^  duke  of  York^  from  the  British 
throne,  were  natural  branches  sprung  up  from  the  same  stock: 
and  this  at  a  juncture,  when  not  only  the  church  of  Christ 
was  in  the  greatest  danger  of  being  totally  extirjmted,  but  the 
whole  land  in  hazard  of  being  again  overwhelmed  with 
popish  darkness  and  idolatry.  But  although  a  very  fit  op- 
portunity was  then  offered  the  nations  for  reviving  the  long 
buried  work  of  a  covenanted  reformation  both  in  church  and 
state,  and  re-establishing  all  the  ordinances  of  God  in  purity,, 
according  to  their  scriptural  institution ;  yet,  alas !  how 
deeply  is  it  to  be  lamented,  that,  instead  thereof,  the  multi- 
tude of  his  tender  mercies  being  forgotten,  there  was  a  re- 
turning, but  not  to  the  Most  High  ;  yea,  a  turning  aside  like 
a  deceitful  bow  ;  so  that,  in  many  respects,  our  national  guilt 
is  now  increased  above  what  it  was  in  former  times :  where- 
fore, as  the  presbytery  desire  with  the  utmost  gratitude  to 
acknowledge  the  divine  goodness,  in  giving  a  respite  from 
the  hot  furnace  of  persecution  ;  so  they  likewise  find  them- 
selves, in  duty  to  their  princely  Master  and  his  people, 
obliged  to  testify  and  declare  against  foresaid  revolution 
settlement,  in  a  variety  of  particulars,  with  the  many  de- 
fections and  backslidings  flowing  therefrom.     Likeas  they 


[55] 

hereby  do  testify  against  the  constitution,  both  civil  and 
ecclesiastic,  at  the  Revolution,  anno  1689,  in  these  respects, 
and  for  these  reasons  : — 

1.  Because  that  in  the  civil  constitution,  these  nations 
once  united  together  in  a  scriptural  and  covenanted  uniform- 
ity, unmindful  of  their  former  establishment  upon  a  divine 
footing,  wherein  king  and  people  were  to  be  of  one  perfect 
religion,  and  the  supreme  magistrate  obliged  by  solemn  oath 
to  maintain  and  preserve  the  same  inviolable,  did  call  and 
invite  William,  and  Mary^  prince  and  princess  of  Orange^ 
unto  the  possession  of  the  royal  power  in  these  lands,  in  a 
way  contrary  to  the  word  of  God,  as  Deut.  xvii,  15  :  "  Thou 
"  shalt  in  any  wise  set  him  king  over  thee  whom  the  Lord 
"thy  God  shall  choose:  one  from  among  thy  brethren  shalt 
"  thou  set  king  over  thee :  thou  mayest  not  set  a  stranger 
"over  thee,  which  is  not  thy  brother."  2  Sam.  xxiii,  3: 
"  The  God  of  Israel  said,  the  Rock  of  Israel  spake  to  me,  He 
"that  ruleth  over  men,  must  be  just,  ruling  in  the  fear  of 
"God." 

In  opposition  to  these  clear  precepts,  the  nations  did  choose 
the  foresaid  persons  to  swaj^  the  civil  sceptre  over  them,  who 
were  neither  brethren  by  birth,  nor  religious  profession,  being 
educated  in  a  church  where  Erastianism  prevails,  as  appears 
from  their  ascribing  such  an  extensive  power  to  the  civil 
magistrate,  as  is  inconsistent  with  the  intrinsic  power  of  the 
church.  Accordingly,  by  these  principles,  said  prince  of 
Orange  did  regulate  his  conduct,  in  the  assumption  of  his 
regal  authority,  consenting  to  sw^ear  two  distinct  oaths, 
whereby  he  obliged  himself  to  preserve  and  maintain  the 
two  distinct  and  contrary  religions  (or  modes  of  religious 
worship),  presbytery  and  prelacy,  and  so  betrayed  both  to 
God  and  man  his  politic,  worldly  views,  and  proclaimed  him- 
self destitute  of  that  truth  and  religious  fear,  which  is  the 
essential  character  of  every  person  who  may  warrantably  be 
invested  with  supreme  authority  over  the  Israel '  of  God. 
And  as  they  wanted  scriptural,  so  likewise  covenant  qualifi- 
cations, namely,  known  integrity,  appro ven  fidelity,  constant 
aftection,  and  zeal  to  the  cause  and  true  church  of  God  ;  and 
therefore  could  not  in  a  consistency  with  the  covenanted 
constitution,  and  fundamental  laws  of  the  crown,  be  set  up 
as  king  and  queen  of  these  covenanted  lands. 

Again,  as  during  the  persecuting  period,  the  nations  gen- 
erally were  involved  in  theguilt  of  perjury  and  deep  apostasy, 
by  the  many  sinful  contradictory  tests,  oaths  and  bonds  then 
imposed  ;  so,  in  a  particular  manner,  those  who,  by  virtue  of 
their  birth  and  dignity,  ought  to  have  been  the  defenders  of  the 


[56] 

nation's  privileges,  botli  sacred  and  civil,  on  the  contrary,  as 
privy  counsellors  to  the  two  impious  brothers  in  their  rage 
against  the  Lord  and  his  Anointed,  and  as  members  of  their 
iniquitous  parliaments  (where,  perverting  equity  and  justice, 
they  framed  the  most  heaven-daring  and  abominable  mis- 
chiefs into  a  law,  and  then  with  the  utmost  cruelty  prosecuted 
the  same),  had  many  of  them  brought  themselves  under  the 
fearful  guilt  of  these  atrocious  crimes  of  murder,  perjury, 
tyranny  and  oppression  ;  and  thereby,  according  to  the  law 
both  of  God  and  man,  not  only  forfeited  their  lives,  had  the 
same  been  duly  executed  ;  but  also  divested  themselves  of  all 
just  right  and  title  to  act  the  part  of  the  nation's  representa- 
tives, in  choosing  and  installing  any  in  the  office  of  supreme 
civil  governor,  until  at  least  they  had  given  suitable  evidence 
of  their  repentance.  Yet  such  were  the  constituent  members 
of  that  committee  of  estates,  and  first  parliament,  employed 
in  the  Revolution  settlement,  without  so  much  as  making 
any  suitable  public  acknowledgment  of  their  wickedness 
in  the  active  hand  the  generality  of  them  had  in  the  former 
bloody  persecution,  as  appears  from  a  comparative  view  of 
the  lists  of  the  members  of  parliament,  and  particularly  the 
duke  of  York's  last  parliament,  with  act  second  of  the  acts 
and  orders  of  the  meeting  of  estates,  anno  1689.  Yea,  by 
viewing  the  lists  of  James  YII,  his  privy  council,  annexed 
by  Wodrow  to  the  second  volume  of  his  history,  it  is  evident 
that  a  great  number  of  the  nobility  alone,  members  of  that 
bloody  council,  were  also  members  of  foresaid  convention  of 
estates,  the  members  of  which  convention  (seven  bishops  ex- 
cepted) were  exactly  the  same  with  the  members  of  the  lirst 
parliament  at  the  Revolution.  For  this,  compare  second  act 
of  the  meeting  of  estates,  with  act  first,  parliament  first  of 
William  and  Mary.  By  all  which  it  is  evident,  that  from 
princes  who  had  thus  removed  the  bound,  and  discovered  no 
just  remorse  for  their  sins,  there  was  little  ground  left  to  ex- 
pect a  happy  establishment  of  religion,  in  restoring  the  flock 
of  Christ  to  the  full  possession  of  those  valuable  privileges 
and  liberties  wherewith  he  had  made  them  free. 

The  character  of  the  constituent  members  being  considered, 
the  constitution  itself,  and  wherein  it  is  inconsistent  with 
our  covenanted  establishment,  and  is  therefore  hereby  testi- 
fied against,  comes  next  to  be  considered.  Although  the 
declaration  of  the  meeting  of  estates  in  this  kingdom,  con- 
taining their  claim  of  right,  comprehended  much  more  of 
their  civil  liberties,  and  formal  rights  of  government,  than 
was  enjoyed  under  the  former  monstrous  tyranny,  yet  b}^  no 
means  sufficiently  i)rovided  for  the  legal  establishment  of  our 


[57] 

former  happy  reformed  constitution,  which  necessarily 
obliged  the  civil  rulers  to  employ  their  power  to  maintain 
and  defend,  not  only  the  doctrine,  but  also  the  presbyterian 
worship,  discipline  and  government,  as  the  only  and  unalter- 
able form  instituted  by  Christ  in  his  house.  Whereas  this 
craves  the  abolition  of  prelacy,  and  the  superiority  of  an  of- 
fice in  the  church  above  presbyters  in  Scotland^  simply  as  it  has 
been  a  great  and  insupportable  grievance  and  trouble  to  this 
nation,  and  contrary  to  the  inclinations  of  the  generality  of 
the  people  ever  since  the  reformation  from  popery,  without 
regarding  the  divine  right  of  presbytery,  and  the  contrariety 
of  prelacy  to  scripture  revelation.  In  agreeableness  to  which 
<leAand,  when  the  first  parliament  met  in  Scotland^  imme- 
diately after  the  Revolution,  which  began  the  day  of 
Aprils  1689,  in  Act  3d,  Sess.  1st,  entitled  Act  abolishing  Pre- 
tey,  they  abolished  prelacy  for  the  foresaid  reason,  and  further 
declare,  that  they  will  settle  by  law  that  church  government 
in  this  kingdom,  which  is  most  agreeable  to  the  inclinations 
of  the  people.  Accordingly,  in  the  second  session  of  the 
same  parliament,  Act  5th,  June  7th,  1690,  the  parliament 
establishing  the  presbyterian  church  government  and  dis- 
cipline, as  it  had  been  ratified  and  established  by  the  14th 
Act^  James  VI,  JParL  12th,  anno  1592,  reviving,  renewing 
and  confirming  the  foresaid  act  of  parliament,  in  the  whole 
heads  thereof,  except  that  part  of  it  relating  to  patronages, 
afterward  to  be  considered  of.  Likewise,  in  the  above  men- 
tioned Act  at  the  Revolution,  the  thirty-three  chapters  of 
the  Westminster  Confession  of  Faith  (exclusive  of  the  cate- 
chisms, directory  for  worship,  and  form  of  church  govern- 
ment formerly  publicly  authorized,  and  Covenants  I^ational 
and  Solemn  League)  were  ratified  and  established  by  the 
parliament.  And  the  said  Confession  being  read  in  their 
presence,  was  voted  and  approven  by  them,  as  the  public  and 
avowed  Confession  of  this  church,  without  taking  any  notice 
of  its  scriptural  authority.  And  further,  in  the  same  session 
of  parliament,  by  the  royal  power  allenarly,  the  first  meeting 
of  the  general  assembly  of  this  church,  as  above  established, 
was  appointed  to  be  held  at  JEdinbiirgh^  the  third  Thursday 
of  October  following,  the  same  year,  1690.  And  by  the  same 
civil  authority  and  foresaid  act,  many  of  the  churches  in 
Scotland  were  declared  vacant. 

2.  The  presbytery  testify  against  the  ecclesiastical  consti- 
tution at  the  Revolution  ;  particularly,  in  regard,  1st — That 
the  members  composing  the  same  were  no  less,  if  not  much 
more  exceptionable,  than  those  of  whom  the  state  consisted ; 
the  whole  of  them  one  way  or  another  being  justly  charge- 


[58] 

able  with  unfaithfulness  to  Christ,  and  his  covenanted  cause, 
by  sinful  and  scandalous  compliance  with  the  public  defec- 
tions of  the  former  times,  or  actively  countenancing  the  mal- 
ignant apostasy  of  the  lands,  which  will  appear  evident,  by 
considering  that  the  Revolution  Church  consisted  of  such 
oifice-bearers,  as  had,  in  contradiction  to  their  most  solemn 
covenant  engagements,  fallen  in  with,  and  approven  of  the 
public  resolutions.  And  these  public  resolutioners,  who  had 
betrayed  the  Lord's  cause,  which  they  had  in  the  most 
solemn  manner  sworn  to  maintain,  were,  w^ithout  any  public 
acknowledgment  demanded  or  offered,  or  adequate  censure 
inflicted  (even,  after  that  the  Lord  had  remarkably  testified 
his  displeasure  against  that  leading  step  of  defection  by  suf- 
fering these  vipers,  which  we  thus  took  into  our  bosom,  to 
sting  us  almost  to  death)  for  this  their  scandalous  defection 
and  perjury,  admitted  and  sustained  members  of  the  Revolu- 
tion Church.  Again,  the  Revolution  assembly  consisted  of 
such  ministers  as  had  shamefully  changed  their  holding  of 
Christ,  and  sinfully  submitted,  in  the  exercise  of  their  min- 
istry, to  an  exotic  head,  Charles  II,  who  had,  by  virtue  of 
his  blasphemous  supremacy,  and  absolute  power,  taken  the 
power  of  the  keys  from  Christ's  ministers,  and  afterward 
returning  only  one  of  them  (viz  :  the  key  of  doctrine)  to  such 
as  accepted  his  anti-christian,  church-destroying,  and  Christ- 
dethroning  indulgences,  attended  with  such  sinful  limitations 
and  restrictions,  as  were  utterly  inconsistent  with  ministerial 
freedom  and  faithfulness,  declaring  the  acceptors  to  be  men- 
pleasers,  and  so  not  the  servants  of  Christ  (of  which  above).  Of 
this  stamp  were  the  most  of  them,  who,  without  any  public 
acknowledgment  of  that  horrid  affront  they  had  put  upon  the 
church's  true  Head,  dared  to  constitute  and  act  as  the  supreme 
judicatory  of  the  church  of  Christ,  anno  1690.  Again,  the 
foresaid  assembly  was  almost  wholly  formed  of  such  as  had 
petitioned  for,  accepted  of,  and  pretended  to  return  a  God- 
mocking  letter  of  thanks  for  that  blasphemous  unbounded 
toleration,  which  that  popish  tyrant,  the  duke  of  York  (as 
is  noticed  formerly),  granted,  with  a  special  view  to  reintro- 
duce abjured  popery;  and  therefore  while  it  extended  its 
protection  to  every  heresy,  did  exclude  the  pure  preaching  of 
the  gospel  in  the  fields ;  which  toleration  (according  to 
Wodrow)  was  joyfully  embraced  by  all  the  presbyterian  min- 
isters in  Scotland,  the  honored  Mr.  Ren  wick  only  excepted, 
who  faithfully  protested  against  the  same. 

But  further,  the  Revolution  assembly  did  partly  consist  of 
such  members  as,  contrary  to  our  solemn  covenants,  had 
their  consciences  dreadfully  polluted,   by  consenting  unto, 


[59] 

subscribing,  and  swearing  some  one  or  other  of  the  sinful 
wicked  oaths,  tests  and  bonds,  tyrannically  imposed  in  the  ■ 
persecuting  period,  or  by  persuading  others  to  take  them, 
and  declining  to  give  warning  of  the  danger  of  them,  or  by 
approving  the  warrantableness  of  giving  security  to  the 
bloody  council,  not  to  exercise  their  ministry,  but  according 
to  their  pleasure.  Moreover,  they  were  all,  generally,  mani- 
festly guilty  of  the  sin  of  carrying  on  and  maintaining 
schism  and  defection  from  the  covenanted  church  of  Christ 
in  Scotland.  As  also  (which  from  the  history  of  these  times 
is  evident),  the  ruling  elders  in  that  assembly,  being  generally 
noblemen,  gentlemen,  and  burgesses,  were  mostly  such  as 
had  an  active  hand  in  the  tyranny  and  persecution  that 
preceded,  and  in  one  respect  or  other,  were  stained  with  the 
blood  of  the  martyrs  of  Jesus.  Thus,  that  assembly  was 
packed  up,  chiefly,  of  such  blacked  compilers,  as,  one  way  or 
other,  were  deeply  involved  in  the  apostasy,  bloodshed  and 
cruelty  of  the  preceding  period,  yet  had  not  broke  olf  their 
iniquities,  by  a  public  confession  of  these  crying  sins,  before 
that  meeting ;  nor  can  it  be  found,  that  any  adequate  cen- 
sure was  inflicted  on  any  of  them  for  the  same.  Therefore, 
the  presbytery  testify  against  the  Revolution  church,  as 
consisting  mostly  of  such  scandalous  schismatical  members,  as 
could  not,  in  a  consistency  with  the  scriptural  rule,  and  lau- 
dable acts  of  this  reformed  church,  have  been  admitted  to 
church  privileges,  far  less  to  bear  office  in  the  house  of  God  *, 
until,  at  least,  they  had  been  duly  purged  from  their  aggra- 
vated scandals,  and  given  evident  signs  of  a  real  repentance, 
according  to  the  Word  of  God,  2  Chron.  xxx,  3  :  ''  For  they 
could  not  keep  the  passover  at  that  time,  because  the  priests 
had  not  sanctified  themselves  sufficiently."  And  Ezek.  xliv, 
10:  "And  the  Levites  that  are  gone  away  far  trom  me, 
when  Isra-el  went  astray,  which  went  astray  away  from  me 
after  their  idols,  they  shall  even  bear  their  iniquity ',  v.  13 : 
"And  they  shall  not  come  near  unto  me,  to  do  theoffice  of  a 
priest  unto  me,  nor  to  come  near  to  any  of  my  holy  things, 
in  the  most  holy  place  ;  but  they  shall  bear  their  shame,  and 
their  abominations  which  they  have  committed." 

ISText,  the  presbytery  declare  and  testify  against  the  Revo- 
lution church,  because  plainly  Erastian,  and  utterly  incon- 
sistent with  the  covenanted  constitution  of  the  reformed 
church  of  Scotland,  anno  1648:  the  truth  of  which  charge 
will  appear  obvious,  from  considering  the  act  of  parliament^ 
on  which  the  civil  power  settled  the  constitution  of  the 
Revolution  church,  y\z\  Act  114,  James  VI,  Farl.  12th; 
where,  inter  alia,  it  is  expressly  declared,  "  That  it  shall  be 


[60] 

lawful  to  the  kirk  ministers,  every  year  at  least, and  oftener, 
pro  re  nata,  as  occasion  and  necessity  sail  require,  to  hald 
and   keepe  general   assemblies,   providing   that   the   king's 
majesty,  or  his  commissioner  with  them,  to  be  appointed  be 
his  highness  to  be  present  at  ilk  general  assembly,  before  the 
dissolving  thereof,  nominate  and  appoynt  time  and  place, 
quhen  and  quhair  the  next  general  assemblie  sail  be  halden : 
and  in  case  neither  his  majesty  nor  his  said  commissioner  beis 
present  for  the  time,  in  that  town,  quhair  the  said  general 
assemblie  beis  halden,  then, and  in  that  case,  it  shall  be  lesum 
for  the  said  general  assembly  be  themselves,  to  nominate  and 
appoint  time  and  place,  quhair  the  next  general  assembly  of 
the  kirk  sail  be  keeped  and  halden,  as  they  have  been  in  use 
to  do  these  times  by-past."     Here,  in  this  act,  a  manifest  in- 
vasion and  traitorous  attack  is  made  upon  the  headship  and 
supremacy  of  Christ,  as  a  Son  in,  and  over  his  own  house. 
He  who  is  God's  annointed  King  in  Zion,  and  sits  on  the 
throne  of  his  holiness,  is  hereby  robbed  of  his  crown  rights ; 
the    intrinsic    power,   the    spiritual    liberty   and    freedom, 
granted  by  Christ  to  his  church,  is  encroached  upon.     It  is  a 
received  opinion  among  all  true  Presbyterians,  that  the  church 
hath  an  intrinsic  power  to  meet  in  the  courts  of  Christ's 
bouse,  from   the   lowest   to   the  highest,  by  virtue  of  the 
power  committed  to  her  by  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  without 
dependence  on  the  civil  power.     This   is  agreeable  to  scrip- 
ture, Matth.  xvi,  19,  and  xviii,  18,  19,  where  the  apostles 
receive  the  keys  immediately  from  the  hands  of  Christ,  their 
Lord  and  Master.     And  as  one  principal  part  of  that  trust 
Christ  has  committed  to  his  church,  this  has  been  the  con- 
stant plea  of  the  reforming  and  reformed  Presbyterian  church 
of  Scotland.     Let  us  hear  what  that  renowned  and  faithful 
minister,   and  venerable  confessor  for  Christ,  the  Rev.  Mr. 
John  Welsh,  says  to  this  particular,  in  his   letter  to    the 
Countess  of  Wigton  from  Blackness^  1606,  when  a  prisoner  for 
this  same  truth.     Having  asserted  the  independence  of  the 
church,  the  spiritual  kingdom  of  Christ,  upon  any  earthly 
monarch,  and    her   freedom   to   meet  and  judge  of  all  her 
affairs,  he   adds:  "These   two   points,    1st,   that   Christ  is 
Head  of  his  church  ;  2d,  that  she  is  free  in  her  government 
from   all   other  jurisdictions,   except   Christ's.     These   two 
|)oints,  I   say,  are  the  special  causes  of  our  imprisonment, 
being  now  convicted  as  traitors  for  maintaining  thereof    AV^e 
have  been  ever  waiting  with  joyfulness  to  give  the  last  testi- 
mony  of  our   blood    in  confirmation    thereof,  if  it  should 
please  our  God  to  be  so  favorable  as  to  honor  us  with  that 
dignity.     Yea,  I   do   affirm,  that  these   two   points   above 


[61] 

written,  and  all  other  things  that  do  belong  to  ChristV 
crown,  scepter  and  kingdom,  are  not  subject,  nor  cannot  be,, 
to  any  other  authoritj^,  but  to  his  own  altogether:  so  that  I 
would  be  glad  to  be  offered  up  as  a  sacrifice  for  so  glorious  a 
truth."  So  far  he.  But  now  this  assembly  of  treacherous 
men,  by  settling  themselves  upon  such  a  constitution,  have 
openly  given  up  this  scriptural  truth  and  Presbyterian  prin- 
ciple handed  down  to  us,  sealed  with  the  sufferings  and 
dearest  blood  of  the  faithful  Confessors  and  Martyrs  of  Christ, 
and  have  consented  that  it  is  unlawful  for  the  office-bearers 
in  the  Lord's  house  to  exert  their  proper  power  in  calling  and 
appointing  general  assemblies,  however  loudly  the  necessity 
of  the  church  may  call  for  them,  unless  the  king  author'ze 
their  diet  of  meeting,  which  he  may,  or  may  not  do,  accord- 
ing to  his  pleasure. 

Again,  it  is  evident,  that  the  revolution  church  is  consti- 
tuted in  the  same  Erastian  manner  with  the  late  prelacy  in 
Scotland.  For  proof  of  which,  observe,  that  as  prelacy  was 
never  ecclesiastically  asserted  to  be  of  divine  authority, 
neither  has  presbytery,  by  any  explicit  and  formal  act  of 
Assembly,  at  or  since  the  revolution.  As  the  prelates'  high 
ecclesiastical  court  was  called,  adjourned  and  dissolved,  in  the 
king's  name,  so  likewise  are  the  assemblies  of  the  Revolu- 
tion Church.  As  the  Episcopalians  owned  the  king,  in  the 
exercise  of  his  Erastian  supremacy  over  them,  so  the  Revo- 
lution Church,  instead  of  opposing,  did  take  up  her  standing 
under  the  covert  of  that  antichristian  supremacy,  and  has 
never  since  declined  the  exercise  thereof.  And,  as  the  civil 
power  prescribed  limits  unto,  and  at  pleasure  altered,  the 
prelatic  church,  so  this  church  has  accepted  of  a  formula, 
prescribed  by  the  civil  power,  requiring  that  all  the  ordi- 
nances within  the  same  be  performed  by  the  ministers 
thereof,  as  they  were  then  allowed  them,  or  should  thereafter 
be  declared  by  their  authority,  as  act  23d,  sess.  4th,  jmrl.  1st, 
1693,  expressly  bears.  By  what  is  said  above,  it  may  appear, 
that  this  church  is  Erastian  in  her  constitution.  But  it  is 
further  to  be  observed,  that  the  present  constitution  is  no 
less  inconsistent  with  the  scriptural  and  covenanted  consti- 
tution of  the  church  of  Scotland^  in  regard  that  the  retrogade 
constitution,  to  which  the  church  fled  back,  and  on  which 
she  was  settled  at  the  revolution,  was  but  an  infant  state  of 
the  church,  lately  after  her  first  reformation  from  popery,  far 
inferior  to  her  advanced  state  betwixt  1638  and  1649  in- 
clusive. It  was  before  the  church  had  shaken  oft'  the  in- 
tolerable yokes  of  Erastian  supremacy  and  patronages  ;  before 
she  had  ecclesiastically  asserted,  and  practically  maintained. 


[62] 

her  spiritual  and  scriptural  claim  of  right,  namely,  the 
divine  right  of  presbytery,  and  intrinsic  power  of  the  church, 
the  two  special  gems  of  Christ's  crown,  as  King  on  his  holy 
hill  of  Zion ;  before  the  explanation  of  the  national  cove- 
nant, as  condemning  episcopacy,  the  five  articles  of  Perth, 
the  civil  power  of  church-men  ;  before  the  Solemn  League 
and  Covenant  was  entered  into ;  before  the  Westminster 
Confession  of  Faith,  the  Catechisms,  larger  and  shorter,  the 
Directory  for  worship.  Form  of  Presbyterian  church  govern- 
ment and  ordination  of  ministers,  were  composed ;  and 
before  the  acts  of  church  and  state,  for  purging  judicatories, 
ecclesiastical  and  civil,  and  armies  from  persons  disatiected 
to  the  cause  and  work  of  God,  were  made ;  and  all  these 
valuable  pieces  of  reformation  ratified  with  the  full  and 
ample  sanction  of  the  supreme  civil  authority,  by  the  king's 
majesty  and  honorable  estates  of  parliament,  as  parts  of  the 
covenanted  uniformity  in  religion,  betwixt  the  churches  of 
Christ  in  Scotland,  England  and  Ireland.  And  therefore,  this 
revolution  constitution  amounts  to  a  shameful  disregarding — 
yea,  disclaiming  and  burying — much  (if  not  all)  of  the  reforma- 
tion attained  to  in  that  memorable  period,  and  is  a  virtual 
homologation  and  allowance  of  the  iniquitous  laws  at  the 
restoration,  anno  1661,  condemning  our  glorious  reformation 
and  sacred  covenants  as  rebellion  ;  and  is  such  an  aggravated 
step  of  defection  and  apostasy,  as  too  clearlj^  discovers  this 
church  to  be  fixed  upon  a  different  footing,  and  to  be  called 
by  another  name,  than  the  genuine  oftspring  of  the  true 
covenanted  church  of  Christ  in  Scotland. 

Besides  what  has  been  already  noticed,  respecting  the 
sinfulness  both  of  the  members  constituent,  and  the  consti- 
tutions at  the  revolution,  it  is  to  be  further  observed,  as 
just  matter  of  lamentation,  that,  at  this  period,  when  such 
a  noble  opportunity  was  ofi:ered,  no  suitable  endeavors  were 
made  for  reviving  the  covenanted  cause  and  interest  of  our 
Redeemer  ;  no  care  taken  that  the  city  of  the  Lord  should 
be  built  upon  her  own  heap,  and  the  palace  remain  after  the 
manner  thereof;  but,  on  the  contrary,  a  religion  was  then 
established,  not  only  exceeding  far  short  of,  but  in  many 
particulars  very  inconsistent  wath,  and  destructive  of,  that 
blessed  uniformity  in  religion,  once  the  glory  of  these  now 
degenerate  isles.  The  presbytery,  therefore,  in  the  next 
place,  do  testify  against  the  settlement  of  religion  made  at 
the  revolution,  and  that  in  these  particulars  following: — 

1.  Instead  of  abolishing  prelacy  in  England  and  IrelaJid, 
as  it  had  been  abjured  m  the  Solemn  League  and  Covenant, 
and  stands  condemned  by  the  word  of  God,  and  fundamental 


[63] 

laws  of  the  nations,  conform  to  the  divine  law,  it  was  then, 
with  all  its  popish  ceremonies,  anew  secured,  confirmed  and 
established,  in  both  these  kingdoms,  as  the  true  religion, 
according  to  the  word  of  God,  to  be  publicly  professed  by 
all  the  people ;  and  the  supreme  civil  magistrate  solemnly 
sworn,  at  his  inauguration,  both  that  he  himself  shall  be 
of  the  Episcopal  communion,  and  that  he  shall  maintain 
inviolably  the  settlement  of  the  church  in  the  kingdoms  of 
England  and  Ireland^  and  territories  thereunto  belonging. 
Thus  the  revolution  has  ratified  the  impious  overthrow,  and 
ignominious  burial,  of  the  covenanted  reformation  in  these 
two  kingdoms,  that  was  made  in  the  persecuting  period,  and 
has  fixed  a  legal  bar  in  the  way  of  their  reformation,  in 
agreeableness  to  the  sacred  oath  the  three  nations  brought 
themselves  under  to  God  Almighty. 

2.  As  to  the  settlement  of  religion  in  Scotland^  the 
presbytery  testify  against  it :  because  it  was  a  settlement, 
which,  instead  of  homologating  and  reviving  the  covenanted 
reformation  between  1638  and  1650,  in  profession  and  prin- 
ciple, left  the  same  buried  under  the  infamous  act  recissory, 
which  did,  at  one  blow,  rescind  and  annul  the  whole  of  the 
reformation,  and  authority  establishing  the  same,  by  making 
a  retrogade  motion,  as  far  back  as  1592,  without  ever  coming- 
one  step  forward  since  that  time,  and  herein  acted  most  con- 
trary to  the  practice  of  our  honored  reformers,  who  always 
used  to  begin  where  former  reformations  stopped,  and  after 
having  removed  wdiat  obstructed  the  work  of  reformation, 
Avent  forward,  in  building  and  beautifying  the  house  of  the 
Lord. 

That  this  backward  settlement  at  the  revolution,  was  a 
glaring  relinquishment  of  many  of  our  valuable  and  happy 
attainments,  in  the  second  and  most  advanced  reformation 
(as  said  is),  and  consequently,  an  open  apostasy  and  revolt 
from  the  covenanted  constitution  of  the  church  of  Scotland^ 
is  sufficiently  evident,  from  the  foresaid  act  of  settlement, 
1690 ;  where  (after  having  allowed  of  the  Westminster  con- 
fession) they  further  add, ''That  they  do  establish,  ratify  and 
confirm  the  presbyterian  church  government  and  discipline, 
ratified  and  established  by  the  114th  ad,  James  YI^jmH.  12th, 
anno  1592."  So  that  this  settlement  includes  nothing  more  of 
the  covenanted  uniformity  in  these  lands,  than  only  the  thirty- 
three  articles  of  the  Confession  of  Faith,  wanting  the  scripture 
proofs.  Again,  that  the  Revolution  settlement  of  religion  did 
not  abolish  the  act  recissory,  nor  ratify  and  revive  any  act 
between  1638  and  1650,  authorizing  and  establishing  the 
work  of  reformation,  is  clear  from  the  same  act :  wherein, 


[64] 

after  abolishing  some  acts  anent  the  late  prelacy  in  Scotland, 
they  declare  :  '^'That  these  acts  are  abolished,  so  far  allenarly, 
as  the  said  acts,  and  others,  generally  and  particularly  above 
mentioned,  are  contrary  or  i)rejudicial  to,  inconsistent  with, 
or  derogatory  from,  the  protestant  religion,  or  presbyterian 
church  government,  now  established."  Where  observe,  that 
this  general  clause  is  restricted  to  acts  and  laws,  in  so  far 
only,  as  they  were  contrary  to  the  religion  settled  in  this 
act ;  and  therefore,  as  this  act  includes  no  part  of  the  coven- 
anted reformation  between  1638  and  1649,  so  this  recissory 
clause  abolishes  laws,  not  as  against  foresaid  reformation,  but 
only  in  so  far  as  they  strike  against  the  revolution  settle- 
ment, which  the  act  recissory  could  not  do.  Again,  in  an- 
other clause  of  the  same  act,  it  is  added :  "  Therefore,  their 
majesties  do  hereby  revive  and  ratify,  and  perpetually  con- 
firm, all  laws,  statutes  and  acts  of  parliament,  made  against 
popery  and  papists."  The  only  reason  that  can  be  given  for 
the  revival  of  laws,  not  against  prelac}^  but  popery,  when 
abolishing  prelacy,  is,  that  the  parliament,  excluding  the 
covenanted  reformation  from  this  settlement  of  religion,  re- 
solved to  let  the  whole  of  it  lie  buried  under  the  act  recissory. 
For  as,  in  reality,  there  were  no  laws  made  expressly  against 
prelacy  before  1592,  but  against  popery  and  papists ;  so,  had 
they  said,  laws  against  prelacy  and  prelates,  they  thereby 
would  have  revived  some  of  the  laws  made  by  the  i-eforming 
parliaments,  between  1640  and  1650  ;  wherein  bishops  and 
all  other  prelates,  the  civil  places  and  power  of  kirkmen,  &c., 
are  expressly  condemned.  Again,  in  the  foresaid  act,  they 
confirm  all  the  article  of  the  114th  act,  1592,  except  the  part 
of  it  anent  patronages,  which  is  to  be  afterward  considered. 
Kow,  had  the  revolution  parliament  regarded  the  reforming 
laws  to  have  been  revived,  and  so  the  act  recissory  to  be  re- 
scinded, by  their  act  5th,  1590,  they  would  not  have  left  this 
particular  to  be  again  considered  of,  seeing  patronages  were 
entirely  abolished  by  an  act  of  parliament,  1649  ;  but,  having 
the  ball  at  their  foot,  they  now  acted  as  would  best  suit  with 
their  political  and  worldly  views.  Once  more  observe,  that 
when  the  revolution  parliament  ratified  the  act,  1592,  they 
take  no  notice  of  its  having  been  done  before,  by  a  preceding 
[»arliament  in  1649.  All  which  plainly  says,  that  the  reform- 
ing laws  and  authority  of  the  parliaments  by  which  they 
were  made,  are  not  regarded  as  now  in  force.  To  conclude 
this  particular,  if  the  settlement  of  religion,  made  in  1690, 
had  revived  and  ratified  the  authority  of  our  reforming  par- 
liaments, and  laws  made  by  them  ;  then,  as  these  obliged 
the  king  to  swear  the  covenants  before  his  coronation,  and 


[65] 

all  ranks  to  swear  them,  and  obliged  to  root  out  malignancy, 
sectarianism,  &c.,  and  to  promote  uniformity  in  doctrine, 
worship,  discipline  and  government,  in  the  three  nations,  so 
the  revolution  settlement  would  have  obliged  all  to  the 
practice  of  the  same  duties,  and  that,  before  ever  king,  or 
any  under  him,  could  have  been  admitted  to  any  trust ;  while 
all  that  would  not  comply  therewith,  would  have  been  held 
as  enemies,  not  only  to  religion,  but  to  their  king  and  country 
also,  as  was  the  case  when  reformation  flourished.  13 ut,  as 
the  very  reverse  of  this  was  authorized  and  practised  at  the 
revolution,  it  convincingly  discovers,  that  the  settlement  of 
religion,  made  in  1690,  left  the  whole  of  the  reformation  at- 
tained to,  ratified  and  established  by  solemn  oaths  and  civil 
laws,  between  1640  and  1649,  buried  under  that  scandalous 
and  wicked  act  recissory,  framed  by  that  tyrant,  Charles  II, 
after  his  restoration.  Nor  is  there  to  be  found,  in  all  the 
acts,  petitions,  supplications  and  addresses,  made  by  the  as- 
semblies at  or  since  the  revolution,  any  thing  importing  a 
desire  to  have  that  blasphemous  act  rescinded,  which  stands 
in  full  force,  to  the  perpetual  infamy  and  disgrace  of  the  re- 
volution settlement  of  religion,  so  much  gloried  in,  by  the 
greatest  part,  as  happily  established. 

2.  The  presbytery  testify  against  the  Revolution  settle- 
ment of  religion,  not  only  as  including  avowed  apostasy  from 
the  covenanted  constitution  of  the  reformed  church  of  Scot- 
land^ and  a  traitorous  giving  up  of  the  interests  and  rights  of 
Christ,  our  Lord  and  Redeemer,  in  these,  and  especially  in 
this  land ;  but  also,  as  it  is  an  Erastian  settlement,  which 
will  appear,  by  considering — Ist^  The  scriptural  method 
then  taken,  in  establishing  religion :  instead  of  setting  the 
church  foremost  in  the  work  of  the  Lord,  and  the  state 
coming  after,  and  ratifying  by  their  civil  sanction  what  the 
church  had  done ;  the  Revolution  parliament  inverted  this 
beautiful  order,  both  in  abolishing  prelacy,  settling  presby- 
tery, and  ratifying  the  Confession  of  Faith,  as  the  standard 
of  doctrine  to  this  church:  2d^  In  abolishing  prelacy,  as  it 
was  not  at  the  desire  of  the  church,  but  of  the  estates  of  Scot- 
land ;  so  the  parliament  did  it  in  an  Erastian  manner,  without 
consulting  the  church,  or  regarding  that  it  had  been  abol- 
ished by  the  church,  anno  1638,  and  by  the  state,  1640,  in 
confirmation  of  what  the  church  had  done.  Thus,  Act  3d, 
1689,  'tis  said,  "The  king  and  queen's  majesties  with  the 
estates  of  parliament,  do  hereby  abolish  prelacy."  Again, 
when  establishing  presbytery.  Act  5th,  1690,  they  act  in  the 
same  Erastian  manner,  whereby  the  order  of  the  house  of 
God  was  inverted  in  the  matter  of  government ;  in  regard 


[66] 

that  the  settlement  of  the  government  of  the  church  in  the 
first  instance,  properly  belongs  to  an  ecclesiastical  judica- 
tory, met  and  constituted  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ;  and  it  is  afterward  the  duty  of  the  state  to  give 
the  sanction  of  their  authority  to  the  same.  This  Erasti- 
anism  further  appears  in  the  jiarliament's  conduct  with 
respect  unto  the  Confession  of  Faith :  see  Act  5th,  sess.  2d, 
pari.  1st,  wherein  thus  they  express  themselves:  "  Likeas 
they,  by  these  presents,  ratify  and  establish  the  Confession  of 
Faith,  now  read  in  their  presence,  and  voted  and  approven 
by  them,  as  the  public  and  avowed  confession  of  this  church/^ 
Hence  it  is  obvious,  that  the  parliament, by  sustaining  them- 
selves proper  judges  of  doctrine,  encroached  upon  the 
intrinsic  powder  of  the  church:  they  read,  voted,  and  ap- 
proved the  Confession  of  Faith,  without  ever  referring  to,, 
or  regarding  the  act  of  the  general  assembly  1647,  or  any 
other  act  of  reforming  assemblies,  whereby  that  confession 
was  formerly  made  ours,  or  even  so  much  as  calling  an 
assembly  to  vote  and  approve  that  confession  of  new.  That 
the  above  conduct  of  the  state,  without  regarding  the  church 
in  her  assemblies,  either  past  or  future,  is  gross  Erastianism, 
and  what  does  not  belong,  at  first  instance,  to  the  civil 
magistrate,  but  to  the  church  representative,  to  whom  the 
Lord  has  committed  the  management  of  the  affairs  of  his 
spiritual  kingdom,  may  appear  from  these  few  sacred  texts, 
besides  many  others,  namely.  Numb,  i,  50,  51:  "But  thou 
shalt  appoint  the  Levites  over  the  tabernacle  of  testimony,, 
and  over  all  the  vessels  thereof,  and  over  all  the  things  that 
belong  to  it :  they  shall  bear  the  tabernacle  and  all  the 
vessels  thereof,  and  they  shall  minister  unto  it,  and  shall 
encamp  round  about  the  tabernable  ;  and  when  the  tabernacle 
setteth  forward,  the  Levites  shall  take  it  down,  and  when 
the  tabernacle  is  to  be  pitched,  the  Levites  shall  set  it  up, 
and  the  stranger  that  cometh  nigh  shall  be  put  to  death.'' 
See  also  chapters  iii,  and  iv,  throughout ;  also  Z)eut.  xxxiii, 
8,  IC  ;  1  Chron.  xv,  2 ;  2  Chron.  xix,  11 ;  Ezra  x,  4.  So 
David,  when  he  had  felt  the  anger  of  the  Lord,  for  not 
observing  his  commandments  in  this  particular,  says,  1  Chron. 
XV,  12,  13,  to  the  Levites,  "  Sanctify  yourselves  that  ye  may 
bring  up  the  ark  of  the  Lord  God  of  Israel.  For  because  ye 
did  it  not  at  the  first,  the  Lord  our  God  made  a  breach  upon 
us,  for  that  we  sought  him  not  after  the  due  order.  Likewise 
llezekiah,  a  reforming  king,  did  not  himself,  at  first  instance, 
set  about  reforming  and  i)urging  the  house  of  God ;  but 
having  called  together  the  priests  and  Levites,  says  to  them, 
2  Chron.  xxix,  5:  "  Sanctify  yourselves  and  sanctity  the  house 


[67] 

of  the  Lord  God  of  your  fathers,  and  carry  forth  the  fiUhiness 
out  of  the  holy  place;"  compared  with  ver.  11 ;  MaL  ii,  7 ; 
Matth.  xvi,  19.  "  I  will  give  unto  thee  the  keys  of  the 
kingdom  of  heaven."  And  xxviii,  18,  19,  20:  *'  All  power 
is  given  unto  me,  go  ye  therefore  and  teach  all  nations, 
teaching  them  to  ohserve  all  things  whatsoever  I  have  com- 
manded 3^ou."  From  all  which  it  may  safely  be  inferred, 
that  as  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the  King  and  Lawgiver  of  his 
church,  has  committed  all  the  power  of  church  matters, 
whether  respecting  the  doctrine  or  government  thereof,  to 
church  officers,  as  the  first,  proper  receptacles  thereof;  so, 
for  civil  rulers,  at  first  instance,  by  their  own  authority,  to 
make  alterations  in  the  government  of  the  church,  and  to 
settle  and  emit  a  standard  of  doctrine  to  the  church,  is  a 
manifest  usurpation  of  ecclesiastical  authority,  and  tyranni- 
cal encroachment  upon  the  ministerial  office.  It  needs  only 
to  be  added,  that  this  Revolution  conduct  stands  condemned 
by  the  Confession  of  Faith  itself,  in  express  terms  (as  well  as 
in  the  holy  scriptures),  chap,  xxiii,  sect.  3,  "  The  civil  magis- 
trate may  not  assume  to  himself  the  administration  of  the 
word  or  the  keys."  And  also,  by  the  beautiful  practice  of 
our  reformers,  betwixt  1638  and  1649,  who  observed  the 
scriptural  order,  the  church  always  going  foremost,  in  all  the 
several  pieces  of  reformation  attained  to,  and  then  the  state 
coming  after,  by  exerting  their  authority,  in  ratification  and 
defense  of  the  church's  acts  and  deeds,  in  behalf  of  reformation. 
3.  The  Erastianism  of  this  settlement  of  religion,  appears 
plain  from  the  act  of  parliament  1592,  noticed  above,  upon 
which  the  Revolution  parliament  did  found  it,  as  in  act  5th, 
sess.  2, 1690,  by  which  the  forementioned  act  1592,  is  ratified, 
revived,  renewed  and  confirmed,  in  all  the  heads  thereof, 
patronage  excepted,  i^ow,  in  regard  that  act  1592  contains 
an  invasion  upon  the  headship  of  Christ,  and  intrinsic  power 
of  the  church,  and  ascribes  an  Erastian  power  to  the  civil 
magistrate  over  the  church,  making  it  unlawful  for  the 
church  to  convocate  her  superior  judicatories,  but  in  depend- 
ence upon  the  king  for  his  license  and  authority ;  and  in 
regard  the  Revolution  parliament  did  revive  and  renew  this 
clause  in  foresaid  act  1592,  as  w^ell  as  other  heads  thereof,  it 
must  needs  follow,  that  this  settlement  of  religion  cannot  be 
freed  of  the  charge  of  Erastianism.  ^N'or  is  it  very  strange 
that  statesmen,  who  had  been  educated  in  the  principles  of 
Erastianism,  should  be  fond  of  reviving  an  act  that  robbed 
Christ  of  his  crown  rights,  and  the  church  of  her  spiritual 
liberty ;  but  most  surprising,  that  professed  Presbyterian 
ministers  should  so  greedily  embrace  and  approve  of  Erasti- 


[68J 

anism,  as  a  valuable  and  glorious  deliverance  to  the  church 
of  Christ !  In  agreeableness  to  this  Erastian  article  of  the 
above  act,  the  parliament,  in  their  act  1690,  indicted  and 
appointed  the  first  general  assembly,  as  a  specimen  of  their 
Erastian  power  over  their  newly  constituted  church;  and  it 
has  ever  since  been  the  practice  of  the  sovereign,  to  call, 
dissolve  and  adjourn  her  assemblies  at  his  pleasure,  and  some- 
times to  an  indelinite  time.  It  is  further  observable,  that 
the  king's  commission  to  his  representative  in  assembly,  runs 
in  a  style  that  evidently  discovers,  that  he  looks  upon  the 
assembly's  power  and  right  of  constitution  as  subordinate  to 
him.  Thus  it  begins,  "  Seeing  by  our  decree  that  an  assembly 
is  to7neet,''  &c.  Yet  notwithstanding  of  this,  the  assembly  1690 
(nor  any  after  them,  so  far  as  was  ever  known  to  the  world) 
did  not  by  any  one  formal  act  and  statue  expressly  condemn 
Erastianism,  and  explicitly  assert  the  alone  headship  of 
Christ,  and  the  intrinsic,  independent  power  of  the  church,  in 
opposition  to  these  encroachments  made  thereu])()ii,  and 
therefore  may  be  justly  construed  consenters  thereto.  To 
conclude  this  particular,  of  the  Erastianism  of  the  present 
settlement  of  religion,  it  may  be  observed  that  although  the 
revolution  parliament,  from  political  views,  did  by  act  1st, 
sess.  2d,  rescind  the  first  act  of  second  parliament  of  Charles 
II,  entitled  Act  asserting  his  majesty^ s  supremacy  over  all  persons 
and  in  all  causes  ecclesiastical  ;  yet,  from  Avhat  is  above  hinted, 
it  may  be  inferred,  that  the  Revolution  state  has  still  pre- 
served the  very  soul  and  substance  of  that  blasphemous  su- 
premacy (though  possibly  they  may  have  transferred  it  from 
tlie  person  of  the  king,  abstractly  considered,  and  lodged  it  in 
the  hand  of  the  king  and  parliament  conjunctly,  as  the 
more  proper  subject  thereof):  for,  in  the  words  of  Mr.  John 
Burnet,  in  his  testimony  against  the  indulgence,  quoted  by 
Mr.  Brown  in  his  history  of  the  indulgence,  "  To  settle,  en- 
act and  emit  constitutions,  acts  and  orders,  concerning 
matters,  meetings  and  persons  ecclesiastical,  according  to 
royal  pleasure  (and  parliamentary  is  much  the  same),  is  the 
very  substance  and  definition  of  his  majesty's  supremacy,  as 
it  is  explained  by  his  estates  of  parliament."  But  the 
Revolution  act  of  parliament  settling  religion,  is  just  to  settle, 
enact  and  emit  such  constitutions,  acts  and  orders  concerning 
matters,  meetings  and  persons  ecclesiastical,  according  to 
parliamentary,  instead  of  mere  royal  pleasure:  and  therefore 
the  act  authorizing  the  Revolution  settlement  of  religion,  is 
the  very  substance  and  definition  of  a  royal  parliamentary 
supremacy.  The  truth  of  this  w^ill  further  appear  by  the 
sequel. 


[69] 

4.  The  presbytery  testify  against  the  Revolution.,  constitu- 
tion and  settlement  of  religion,  as  it  is  not  a  religious,  but  a 
mere  civil  and  political  one;  "  not  built  upon  the  foundation 
of  the  apostles  and  prophets,  Jesus  Christ  himself  being  the 
chief  corner  stone;"  but  upon  the  fluctuating  inclinations  of  the 
people,  as  the  formal  foundation  thereof.  For  proof  of  which, 
consider  the  acts  of  parliament  relative  to  tlie  abolition  of 
prelacy,  and  the  establishment  of  presbytery.  In  conse- 
quence of  an  article  of  the  claim  of  right  made  by  the  estates 
of  Scotland,  the  act  3d,  sess.  1st,  pad.  1689,  declares,  "  That 
whereas  the  estates  of  this  kingdom,  in  their  claim  of  right, 
declared  that  prelacy,  and  the  superiority  of  any  otHce  in 
the  church  above  presbyters,  is  and  hath  been  a  great  and 
insupportable  grievance  to  this  nation,  and  contrary  to  the 
inclinations  of  the  generality  of  the  people  ever  since  the 
reformation,  they  having  been  reformed  from  popery  by 
presbyters,  and  therefore  to  be  abolished:  our  sovereign 
lord  and  lady,  with  advice  and  consent  of  the  estates  of  par- 
liament, do  hereby  abolish  prelacy,  and  all  superiority  of  any 
office  in  the  church  in  this  kingdom  above  presbyters  ;  and 
do  declare,  that  they,  with  advice  aforesaid,  will  settle  by 
law  that  church  government  in  this  kingdom,  which  is 
most  agreeable  to  the  inclinations  of  the  people."  Agreeable 
to  this,  one  of  king  William's  instructions  to  the  parliament 
1690,  is,  "You  are  to  pass  an  act  establishing  that  church 
government  which  is  most  agreeable  to  the  inclinations  of 
the  people."  Accordingly  we  have  the  act  ^th^  sess.  2d,  1690, 
settling  Presbyterian  church  government  in  the  same  form, 
and  on  the  same  footing.  And  so  much  king  William,  who, 
doubtless,  was  perfectly  acquainted  with  the  true  intent  and 
meaning  of  that  act,  declares  in  his  letter  to  the  assembly 
indicted  by  him  that  same  year.  From  all  which  (without 
noticing  the  Erastian  form  of  these  acts,  &c.)  it  may  be 
observed,  that  there  is  somew^hat  done  that  is  materially 
good  ;  but  then  there  is  nothing  importing  the  contrariety 
of  prelacy  to  the  scriptures  of  truth,  nor  the  divine  right  of 
Presbyterian  church  government,  so  that  the  whole  of  this 
settlement  is  purely  political,  done  for  the  pleasure  of  the 
good  subjects  of  Scotland :  for,  1st,  the  only  reason  why  i^re- 
lacy  is  complained  of  and  abolished,  is,  because  it  was  griev- 
ous and  contrary  to  the  inclinations  of  the  generality  of  the 
people.  It  is  not  so  much  as  declared  contrary  to  law,  though 
well  known  that  it  was  condemned  by  many  of  the  reforming 
laws ;  far  less  is  it  declared  contrary  to  the  word  of  God, 
and  reformation  principles  founded  thereupon.  ^NTeither  is  it 
said  to  be  a  grievance  to  the  nations,  though  it  is  manifest, 


[70] 

by  the  nations  their  entering  into  a  solemn  covenant  to  extir- 
pate it,  that  it  was  an  insupportable  burden  to  all  the  three. 
And  the  great  reason  assigned  for  the  people's  dissatisfaction  to 
prelac}^,  is  antiquity^  ''they  liaving  been  reformed  from  popery 
by  presbytei-s,"  as  if  our  reformers  had  onl}^  contended  for  a 
church  government  merely  human;  whereas  they  strenuously 
maintained  the  divine  right  of  presbytery,  and  condemned 
prelacy  as  contrary  to  the  word  of  God.     This  reason  would 
be  equally  strong   against  presbyterj^,  on  supposition  that 
prelates  had  got  the  start  of  presbyters  in  the   reformation 
from   popery.     Again,   2d,  upon   the   same,  and    no   better 
ground,  was  presbytery  established,  namely,  because  it  was 
more   agreeable  to  the  inclinations  of  the  people,  and  as  it 
was  of  a  more  ancient  standing  in  Scotland  than  prelacy. 
Further,  that  the  divine  right  of  presbytery  is  not  acknow- 
ledged in  this  settlement,  appears  from  the  express  words  of 
the  act    itself,  wherein  it  is  designated,  "  the  only  govern- 
ment of  Christ's  church  in  the  nation  ;"  not  the  only  govern- 
ment of  Christ's  church  laid  down  in  the  word  of  God,  received 
and  sworn  to  by  all  the  three  nations,  ratified  by  both  civil 
iind  ecclesiastical  authority.     A  clear  evidence,  that  church 
government   was   regarded   as   ambulatory  only,  and  what 
might   be   altered  at  pleasure.     Hence,  while  the  king  was 
settling  presbytery  in  Scotland,  he  was  also  maintaining,  as 
bound  by  oath,  prelacy  in  England,  &c.     And  so  presbytery, 
for  peace's  sake,  as  most  agreeable  to  the  inclinations  of  the 
people,  was  settled  in  Scotland  as  the  government  of  Christ's 
church  there.     Thus,  there  is  a  settlement  of  religion,  and 
yet  not  one  line  of  scripture  authority,  or  reformation  prin- 
ciples legible  therein :  and,  as  one  said  (though  a  strenuous  de- 
fender of  the  settlement),  "The  glory  of  that  church  is  at  a 
low  pass,  which  Viangs  u[)on  the  nail  of  legal  securities  by 
kings  and  parliaments,  instead  of  the  nail  which  God  has 
fastened   in   a   sure  place;"  which,  alas!  is   the   case  with 
the  church   of  Scotland  at  this   day.     It  is  true,  that  the 
])arliament     call    their    settlement,   "Agreeable    to    God's 
word  ;    but  it  is   as  true,  that,  from  their  conduct  toward 
both    (abolishing    prelacy,     and     establishing     presbytery, 
from     these    political     motives    above    mentioned),     it    is 
abundantly  plain,  that  they  believed  neither  of  them  to  be 
formall}^  and  specifically  agreeable  to,  and  founded  ui)on  the 
word  of  God  ;  but  that  they  regarded  all  forms  of  church  gov- 
ernment as  indifferent,  and  thought  themselves  at  liberty  to 
pick  and  choose  such  a  particular   form    as   best  suited  the 
humors  and  inclinations  of  the]  leople,  and  their  own  worldly 
advantage.     Accordingly,  we  find  the  2)arliament  1689,  ajv 


[71] 

pointing  a  committee  to  receive  all  the  forms  of  government 
that  should  be  brought  before  them,  to  examine  them  for  this 
purpose,  and  then  report  their  opinions  of  them  to  the  house. 
That  the  parliament  at  this  time,  or  the  kin^  and  parlia- 
ment conjunctly,  acted  from  the  above  latitudinarian  prin- 
ciple, is  further  evident,  from  their  establishing  and  consent- 
ing to  the  establisliment  of  these  two  different  and  opposite 
forms  of  church  government,  presbytery  in  Scotland^  and  pre- 
lacy in  England  and  Ireland^  and  both  of  them  considered  as 
agreeable  to  the  word  of  God,  and  the  only  government  of 
Olirist's  church  in  the  several  kingdoms,  where  they  were 
espoused  ;  which,  as  it  is  self-contradictory  and  absurd,  so  it 
is  impossible  they  could  ever  have  done  this,  if  they  had 
believed  the  divine  right  of  either  of  them.     And  finally,  by 
this  conduct  of  theirs,  the  state  declared  their  approbation 
thereof,  and  resolution  to  copy  after  the  16th  act^  sess.  2d, 
2)arl.  1st  of  Charles  II  (yet  in  force),  which  ascribes  an  Eras- 
tian  power  to  the  king,  of  settling  church  government  as  he 
shall  think  proper.     By  all  which  it  appears  quite  inconsist- 
ent with  the  Revolution  settlement,  to  consider  church  power 
in  any  other  light,  than  as  subordinate  to  the  power  of  the 
state.      And  yet   with  this    political   and   Erastian   settle- 
ment  of    religion,  the  Revolution    Church   have   declared 
themselves  satisfied  ;  they  have  not  condemned  Episcopacy, 
as  contrary  to  the  w^ord  of  God,  nor  positively  asserted  the 
divine   right   of  presbytery,  and   disclaimed  the   claim   of 
right  and  act  of  settlement,  as  their  right  o<^constitution ; 
but,  on  the  contrary,  approved  of  both,  as  appears  from  the 
commission's  act,  1709,  and  their  address  to  the  parliament, 
1711,    both    homologated    by    the    succeeding   assemblies. 
Whereby  they  declare,  that  they  have  dropped  a  most  ma- 
terial part  of  the  testimony  of  the  reformed  church  of  Scot- 
land, and  are  not  faithful  to  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  in  main- 
taining  the  rights  of  his  crown  and  kingdom.     From  the 
whole,  it   may  too  justly  be  concluded  concerning  the  Rev- 
olution settlement  of  religion,  what  the  prophet  Hosea  de- 
clares of  the  calf  of  Samaria,  Hos.  viii,  6  :  "  For  from  Israel 
was  it  also,  the  workman  made  it,  therefore  it  is  not  God ; 
the  calf  of  Samaria  shall  be  broken  in  pieces."     It  is  not  a 
divine  institution  founded  upon  the  word  of  God,  and  regu- 
lated by  his  revealed  law  ;  but  a  human  invention,  owing  its 
original  in  both  kingdoms  to  the  inclinations  of  the  people, 
and  governed  by  laws  opposite  to  the  laws  of  Christ  in  the 
word. 

Hence   w^e  have   the   idolatrous   institutions   of  prelacy, 
established  in  the  one  nation,  and  Erastianism,  under  the 


[72  J 

specious  pretext  of  presbytery,  in  the  other  ;  and  both  under 
an  exotic  head  of  ecclesiastical  government. 

From  what  is  said  above,  respecting  the  Revolution  con- 
stitution, and  settlement  of  religion  in  the  nations,  it  will 
appear,  that  the  same  are  opposite  to  the  word  of  God,  and 
covenanted  constitutions  of  both  church  and  state,  and  to 
the  reforming  laws,  between  1638  and  1650,  ratifying  and 
securing  the  doctrine,  worship,  discipline,  and  government  of 
the  church,  and  all  divine  ordinances,  sacred  and  civil,  ac- 
cording to  scripture  revelation ;  and  therefore  cannot  be 
acknowledged  as  lawful,  by  any  that  make  the  law  of  God 
their  rule,  and  desire  to  go  out  by  the  footsteps  of  the  flock 
of  Christ. 

The  presbytery  proceed  now  to  consider  the  administration 
since  the  late  Revolution,  as  standing  in  immediate  con- 
nection with  the  forementioned  constitutions  and  settlement : 
only,  in  the  entry,  it  may  be  observed,  that  as  the  mal-ad- 
ministrations,  civil  and  ecclesiastical,  are  increased  to  almost 
an  innumerable  multitude,  so  that  it  would  be  next  to  an 
impossibility  to  reckon  them  all ;  the  presbytery  propose 
only  to  observe  so  many  of  the  most  remarkable  instances, 
as  shall  be  sufiicient  to  justify  a  condemnation  of  the  present 
course  of  the  nations,  although  the  constitutions  could  not 
be  excepted  against  as  sinful.     And, 

1.  The  presbytery  declare  and  testify  against  the  gross 
Erastianism  that  has  attended  the  administrations  of  both 
church  and  state,  since  the  Revolution.  As  the  constitutions 
of  both  (above  noticed)  were  Erastian  and  anti-scriptural,  so 
their  conduct  ever  since  has  been  agreeable  thereto,  tending 
evidently  to  discover  that,  while  the  state  is  robbing  our 
Redeemer  of  his  crown,  and  his  church  of  her  liberties,  this 
church,  instead  of  testifying  against,  gives  consent  to  these 
impieties. 

Particularly,  1,  as  at  the  forementioned  period,  so  ever 
since,  the  king  lias  continued,  by  his  own  authority,  to  call, 
dissolve,  and  adjourn  the  national  assemblies  of  this  church. 
The  first  Revolution  Assembly  was  held,  by  virtue  of  an 
Erastian  indictment,  and  by  the  same  power  dissolved.  The 
next  was,  by  royal  authority,  appointed  to  be  at  Edinburgh, 
1691,  but  by  the  same  power,  adjourned  to  1692,  and  then 
dissolved,  without  passing  any  act ;  and  though  again  in- 
dicted to  meet  1693,  yet  was  not  allowed  to  sit  until  March 
1694,  near  a  year  after  the  parliament  had  made  an  humble 
address  to  the  sovereign  for  granting  that  privilege.  But  it 
would  be  endless  to  attempt  an  enumeration  of  all  the  in- 
stances of  the  exercise  of  Erastianism  in  this  particular,  which 


[78] 

is  annually  renewed.  How  often,  alas !  have  the  assemblies 
been  prorogued,  raised, and  dissolved,  by  magistratical  author- 
ity, and  sometimes  without  nomination  of  another  diet  ? 
How  frequently,  also,  have  they  been  restricted  in  their  pro- 
ceedings, and  prelimited  as  to  members,  and  matters  to  be 
treated  of,  and  discussed  therein;  depriving  some  members 
of  their  liberty  to  sit  and  act  as  members,  though  regularly 
chosen,  merely,  because  such  had  not  taken  the  oaths  ap- 
pointed by  law?  All  which  exercise  of  Erastian  su[)remacy 
natively  results  from  the  parliamentary  settlement  1690. 
And  when  no  adequate  testimony  was  ever  given  by  the 
church  against  such  Erastian  usurpations,  but  they  are  still 
crouched  under  and  complied  with,  it  may  justly  be  con- 
structed a  tame  subjection  and  w^oful  consent  to  his  suprem- 
acy. That  this  is  no  forced  inference  from  the  continued 
practice  of  this  church,  appears  from  this  (besides  other  evi- 
dences that  might  be  adduced),  viz :  That  as  the  Revolution 
parliament,  when  ratifying  the  Confession  of  Faith,  entirely 
left  out  the  act  of  Assembly  1647,  approving  and  partly  ex- 
plaining the  same  (wherein  these  remarkable  words  are,  "  It 
is  further  declared,  that  the  Assembly  understands  some 
parts  of  the  second  article  of  the  31st  chapter,  only  of  kirks 
not  settled  or  constituted  in  point  of  government")  as  being 
inconsistent  with  the  Erastian  impositions  of  the  magistrate. 
So  this  church,  when  they  cause  intrants  into  the  ministry 
subscribe  the  Confession,  do  not  oblige  them  to  subscribe  it^ 
with  this  explanatory  act  (which  does  by  no  means  adniit  of 
a  privative  power  in  the  magistrate,  destructive  of  the 
church's  intrinsic  power),  but  they  only  do  it  as  the  parlia- 
ment ratified  it. 

2.  Another  instance  of  Erastianism  practiced  by  both 
church  and  state,  is,  that  when  the  king  and  parliament  did 
bind  down  episcopal  curates  upon  congregations,  forbidding 
church  judicatories  the  exercise  of  discipline  upon  the  impen- 
itent, and  enjoining  the  Assembly  to  admit  such,  without 
any  evidence  of  grief  or  sorrow  for  their  former  apostasy^ 
upon  their  swearing  the  oath  of  allegiance,  and  subscribing 
a  formula  homologating  the  Revolution  settlement,  substi- 
tuted in  the  room  of  the  covenants ;  the  church  approved  of 
this  settlement,  and  protection  granted  by  the  civil  powers 
to  such  curates  all  their  lifetime  in  their  churches  and  bene- 
fices, who  yet  were  not  brought  under  any  obligation  to  sub- 
ject themselves  to  the  government  and  discipline  of  the 
church.  The  truth  of  this  is  manifest,  from  sundry  of  king 
William's  letters  to  the  Assemblies,  together  with  after  acts 
of  parliament,  relative  thereto.  In  his^letter,  dated  February 


[74] 

13th,  1690,  to  the  commission  of  the  Assembly,  he  says, 
''  Whereas  there  has  been  humble  application  made  to  us  by 
several  ministers,  for  themselves  and  others,  who  lately  served 
under  episcopacy  ;  we  have  thought  good  to  signify  our 
pleasure  to  you,  that  you  make  no  distinction  of  men,  other- 
wise well  qualified  for  the  ministry,  though  they  have  for- 
merly conformed  to  the  law,  introducing  episcopacy,  and  that 
ye  give  them  no  disturbance  or  vexation  for  that  cause,  or 
for  that  head  :  and  it  is  our  pleasure,  that,  until  we  give  our 
further  directions,  you  proceed  to  no  more  process,  or  any 
other  business."  In  another  letter,  dated  June  15th,  1691, 
he  says,  "  AVe  are  well  pleased  with  what  you  write,  to  unite 
with  such  of  the  clergy,  who  have  served  under  episcopacy  ; 
and  that  you  are  sufficiently  instructed  by  the  General  As- 
sembly to  receive  them  ;  from  all  which,  we  do  expect  a 
speedy  and  happy  success,  that  there  shall  be  so  great  a  pro- 
gress made  in  this  union  betwixt  you,  before  our  return  to 
Britain,  that  we  shall  then  find  no  cause  to  continue  that 
stop,  which  at  present  we  see  necessary ;  and  that  neither 
you,  nor  any  commission  or  church  meeting,  do  meddle  in 
any  process  or  business,  that  may  concern  the  purging  out  of 
the  episcopal  ministers."  And  in  a  letter  to  the  episcopal 
clergy,  he  says,  "  We  doubt  not  of  your  applying  to,  and  con- 
curring with,  your  brethren  the  presbyterian  ministers,  in  the 
terms  which  we  have  been  of  pains  to  adjust  for  you ;  the 
formula  will  be  communicated  to  you  by  our  commissioners," 
&c.  See  also  the  27th  ad,  pari.  1695,  where  it  is  declared, 
''  That  all  such  as  shall  duly  come  in  and  qualify  themselves, 
shall  have  and  enjoy  his  majesty's  protection,  as  to  their  re- 
spective kirks  and  benefices,  they  always  containing  them- 
selves within  the  limits  of  their  jjastoral  charge,  withni  their 
said  parishes,  without  oftering  to  exercise  any'part  of  govern- 
ment, unless  they  be  first  duly  assumed  by  a  competent 
church  judicatory ;  providing  nevertheless,  tjfiat  as  the  said 
ministers  are  left  free  to  apply,  or  not,  to  the  foresaid  church 
judicatories,"  &c.  To  which  ao^ree,  act  2d,  pari.  1700  ;  act  3d, 
27arl.  1702;  act  2d,  pari.  1703,  &c.  Behold  here  the  civil 
magistrate,  exercising  the  supremacy  in  matters  ecclesiastical, 
in  that  he  both  establishes  the  old  Scots  curates  in  their  re- 
spective parishes,  upon  their  former  footing,  limits  them  in 
the  exercise  of  their  function,  discharging  them  from  exer- 
cising any  part  of  ecclesiastical  polity,  but  upon  their  uniting 
with  the  presbyterians,  on  the  terms  he  had  adjusted  for 
them.  And  further,  by  his  authority  stops  tlie  exercise  of 
church  discipline  against  these  curates  (though  the  most  of 
them  were  notoriously  scandalous) ;  nay,  even  discharges  the 


[75] 

Assembly  from  proceeding  to  any  other  business,  until  they 
received  other  directions  from  the  throne.  Which  palpable 
instance  of  Erastianism  in  the  state,  was  not  only  peaceably 
submitted  to,  but  heartily  acquiesced  in  by  the  church  :  for 
as  they  had  declared  they  would  censure  no  prelatical  in- 
cumbent for  his  principles  anent  church  government,  however 
much  disaffected  to  a  covenanted  reformation,  and  had  given 
frequent  discoveries  of  their  readiness  to  receive  into  commun- 
ion the  episcopal  curates,  according  to  the  terms  prescribed 
by  the  parliament  (as  appears  from  the  Assembly  records) ; 
so  the  Assembly  1694,  act  11th,  having  framed  a  sham  for- 
mula^ for  receiving  in  the  curates,  containing  no  such  thing  as 
an}^  renunciation  of  abjured  prelacy,  the  abominable  test,  and 
other  sinful  oaths  these  creatures  had  taken,  but  only  an  ac- 
knowledgment of  the  Revolution  settlement  of  religion,  as 
-established  by  law,  by  the  foresaid  act,  appointed  their  com- 
mission to  receive  all  the  episcopal  clergy  who  applied,  and 
being  qualified  according  to  law,  would  also  subscribe  their 
formula^  and  that  without  requiring  the  least  show  of  repent- 
ance for  their  scandalous  public  sins,  and  their  deep  guilt  of 
effusion  of  the  blood  of  God's  faithful  saints  and  witnesses 
during  the  tyranny  of  the  two  brothers.  These  instructions 
to  the  commission  and  other  judicatories  (as  appears  by  their 
acts),  were  successively  renewed  by  the  Assembly  upward  of 
twenty  times,  from  1691  to  1716,  and  w^ere  indeed  attended 
w^ith  good  success,  as  is  evident  from  their  address  to  the 
queen,  recorded  act  10th,  1712  ;  where  they  declare,  as  an 
instance  of  their  moderation,  "  That  since  the  Revolution, 
there  had  been  taken  in,  and  continued,  hundreds  of  the 
episcopal  curates  upon  the  easiest  terms,"  viz :  such  as  were 
by  the  royal  prerogative  adjusted  to  them.  Which  practice, 
as  it  declares  this  church  homologators  of  Erastianism,  so  is 
directly  opposite  to  Presbyterian  principles,  the  discipline 
and  practice  of  our  reformed  church  of  Scotland^  and  to  the 
laws  of  Christ,  the  supreme  lawgiver,  Ezek.  xliv,  10-15 ;  2 
■Cor.  vi,  17,  18,  &c. 

3.  A  third  instance  of  the  Erastianism  practiced  since  the 
revolution,  is,  that  the  king  and  parliament  have  taken  upon 
them  to  prescribe  and  lay  down,  by  magistratical  authority, 
conditions  and  qualifications,  sine  qua  non^  of  ministers  and 
preachers.  For  proof  of  which,  see  act  6th,  sess.  4th,  pari.  1st, 
1698,  where  it  is  enacted,  "That  the  said  oath  of  allegiance  be 
sworn  the  same  with  the  foresaid  assurance,  be  subscribed  by 
all  preachers  and  ministers  of  the  gospel  whatever — certify- 
ing such  of  the  foresaid  persons  as  are,  or  shall  be,  in  any 
public  ofiftce,  and  shall  own  and  exercise  the  same  without 


[76] 

taking  the  said  oath  and  assurance  in  manner  foresaid, — 
ministers  provided  to  kirks  sliall  be  deprived  of  their  bene- 
fices or  stipends,  and  preachers  shall  be  punished  with  ban- 
ishment, or  otherwise,  as  the  council  shall  think  fit."  Also, 
act  23d,  1693,  it  is  ordained,  "  That  no  person  be  admitted 
or  continued  to  be  a  minister,  or  preach  within  this  church, 
unless  that  he  have  first  taken  and  subscribed  the  oath  of 
allegiance,  and  subscribed  the  oath  of  assurance  in  manner 
appointed.  And  further  statute  and  ordain,  that  uniform- 
ity of  worship  be  observed  by  all  the  said  ministers  and  ' 
preachers,  as  the  same  are  at  present  performed  and  allowed 
therein,  or  shall  hereafter  be  declared  by  the  authority  of  the 
same :  and  that  no  minister  or  preacher  be  continued  and 
admitted  hereafter,  unless  that  he  subscribe  to  observe,  and 
do  actually  observe,  the  foresaid  uniformity."  The  Erastian- 
ism  in  these  acts  seems  screwed  up  yet  a  little  higher,  by  act 
7th,  sess.  5th,  'pari.  1st,  1695  ;  where,  after  appointing  a  new 
day  to  such  ministers  as  had  not  formerly  obeyed,  it  is  or- 
dained :  ''  With  certification  that  such  of  the  said  ministers 
as  shall  not  come  in  between  and  said  day,  are  hereby,  and 
by  the  force  of  this  present  act,  ipso  facto^  deprived  of  their 
respective  kirks  and  stipends,  and  the  same  declared  vacant, 
without  any  further  sentence."  The  Erastianism  in  these 
acts  is  so  manifest  at  first  sight,  that  it  is  needless  to  illus- 
trate the  same  ;  only  it  may  be  remarked,  that,  by  these  acts, 
the  civil  magistrate  prescribes  new  ministerial  qualifications, 
viz:  the  oaths  of  allegiance  and  assurance  ;  and  these  imposed 
instead  of  an  oath  of  allegiance  to  Zion's  King,  viz:  the  oaths 
of  the  covenants.  As  also,  that  ministers  are  hereby  restricted 
from  advancing  reformation,  being  bound  down  to  observe 
that  uniformity  at  present  allowed,  or  that  shall  hereafter  be 
declared  by  authority  of  parliament.  And  further,  Erast- 
ianism is  here  advanced  to  the  degree  of  wresting  the  keys 
of  government  out  of  the  hands  of  the  church  altogether — 
taking  to  themselves  the  power  of  deposing  all  such  min- 
isters as  shall  not  submit  to  their  anti-christian  im}»ositions, 
and  of  declaring  and  ascertaining,  by  their  own  authority, 
what  mode  of  worship  or  government  shall  take  place  in  the 
church  hereafter.  This  Erastian  appointment  of  ministerial 
qualifications,  &c.,  is  evidently  injurious,  both  to  the  head- 
ship of  Christ  in  his  church,  and  to  the  church's  intrinsic 
power.  It  pertains  to  the  royal  prerogative  of  Christ,  to 
ap[)oint  all  the  qualifications  of  his  officers,  which  he  has 
done  in  the  Word.  And  it  pertains  to  the  church  represent- 
ative, by  applying  the  laws  of  Christ  in  his  Word,  to  declare 
who  are  qualified  for  the  ministry,  and  who  are  not.     But 


[77] 

here  the  civil  power,  without  any  regard  to  church  judica- 
tories, by  a  magisterial  authority,  judges  and  determines,  the 
qualifications  that  gospel  ministers  must  have,  otherwise 
they  cannot  be  acknowledged  ministers  of  this  church.  At 
the  same  time,  it  must  be  regretted,  that  the  church,  instead 
of  faithfully  discovering  the  sinfulness  of  foresaid  conduct, 
and  testifying  against  it,  as  an  anti-christian  usurpation,  have 
declared  their  approbation  thereof,  by  taking  the  above 
named  il limited  oaths,  according  to  the  parliament's  order  ; 
and  also  by  the  assembly's  enjoining  their  commission  to  act 
conform  to  the  parliament's  directions  respecting  ministerial 
qualifications,  in  their  admission  of  those  that  had  formerly 
conformed  to  episcopacy,  and  refusing  to  admit  any  into  their 
communion  without  having  these  ministerial  qualifications. 
4.  A  fourth  piece  of  Erastianism  exercised  since  the  com- 
mencement of  the  revolution  settlement,  against  which  the 
presbytery  testify,  is,  the  civil  magistrate,  by  himself  and 
his  own  authority,  without  consulting  the  church,  or  any  but 
his  parliament,  privy  council,  and  diocesan  bishops,  his  ap- 
pointing diets  and  causes  of  public  fasting  and  thanksgiving. 
A  number  of  instances  might  here  be  condescended  on.  So 
an  act  of  the  states,  anno  1689,  for  public  thanksgiving.  An 
act  of  parliament  1693,  appointing  a  monthly  fast,  declares, 
"  That  their  majesties,  with  advice  and  consent  of  the  said 
estates  of  parliament,  do  hereby  command  and  appoint,  that 
a  day  of  solemn  fasting  and  humiliation  be  religiously  and 
strictly  observed,  by  all  persons  within  this  kingdom,  both 
in  church  and  meeting-houses,  upon  the  third  Thursday  of  the 
month  of  May^  and  the  third  Thursday  of  every  month  there- 
after, until  intimation  of  forbearance  be  made  by  the  lords 
of  their  majesties' privy  council;  and  ordains  all  ministers  to 
read  these  presents  a  Sunday  before  each  of  these  fast  days, 
nominated,  by  authority ;  and  ordains  all  disobeyers  to  be 
fined  in  a  sum  not  exceeding  100^,  and  every  minister  who 
shall  not  obey,  to  be  processed  before  the  lords  of  their  majes- 
ties' privy  council."  But  it  is  to  no  purpose  to  multiply  in- 
stances of  this  kind,  seeing  it  has  been  the  common  practice 
of  every  sovereign  since  the  revolution,  to  appoint  and  author- 
ize national  diets  of  fasting,  with  civil  pains  annexed.  And 
as  the  state  has  made  these  encroachments  upon  the  royalties 
of  Christ,  so  this  church,  instead  of  bearing  faithful  testi- 
mony against  the  same,  have  finally  submitted  thereto.  In 
agreeableness  to  the  royal  appointment,  they  observed  the 
monthly  fast  for  the  success  of  the  war  against  Lewis  XI\' 
(of  w^hich  above),  and  in  favor  of  the  Pope,  which  king 
William   was   bound  to  prosecute   by  virtue  of  a  covenant 


[78] 

made  with  the  allies  at  the  Hague,  Februaiy^  1691^  to  be 
seen  in  the  declaration  of  war  then  made  against  France^ 
wherein  it  is  expressly  said,  ''  That  no  peace  is  to  be  made 
with  Leivis  XIV,  till  he  has  made  reparation  to  the  Holy 
See  for  whatsoever  he  has  acted  against  it,  and  till  he  make 
void  all  these  infamous  proceedings  (viz:  of  the  parliament 
of  Faris)  against  the  holy  father,  Innocent  XL"  Behold  here 
the  acknowledgment  of  the  Pope's  supremacy,  and  his  power 
and  dignity,  both  as  a  secular  and  ecclesiastical  prince;  and 
in  tlie  observation  of  these  fasts,  the  church  did  mediately 

{tell  it  not  in  Gath )  pray  for  success  to  the  man  of  sin — a 

practice  utterly  repugnant  to  protestant,  much  more  to  Pres- 
byterian, principles,  and  which  will  be  a  lasting  stain  upon 
both  church  and  state.  As  this  church  did  then  submit,  so 
since  she  has  made  a  resignation  and  surrender  of  that  part 
of  the  church's  intrinsic  right  to  the  civil  power,  see  act  7th, 
assent.  1710  :  "All  ministers  and  membereare  appointed  reli- 
giously to  observe  all  fasts  and  thanksgivings  whatever,  ap- 
pointed by  the  church  or  supreme  magistrate;  and  the 
respective  judicatories  are  appointed  to  take  particular  notice 
of  the  due  observation  of  this,  and  act  4th,  1722,  act  5th, 
1725."  From  which  acts  it  is  manifest,  that  the  Revolution 
Church  has  not  only  declared  the  power  and  right  of  author- 
itative indicting  public  fasts  and  thanksgivings  for  ordinarj^ 
even  in  a  constituted  settled  national  church,  to  belong,  at 
least  equally,  to  the  civil  magistrate,  as  to  the  church  ;  but, 
by  their  constant  practice,  have  undeniably  given  up  the 
power  of  the  same  to  the  civil  power  altogether — it  being- 
fact,  that  she  never,  by  her  own  power,  appoints  a  national 
diet  of  fasting,  but  still  applies  to  the  king  for  the  nomina- 
tion thereof.  And  further,as  a  confirmation  of  this  surrender, 
it  appears  from  their  public  records,  that  when  some  members 
have  protested  against  the  observation  of  such  diets,  the  as- 
sembly would  neither  receive  nor  record  such  protest.  Xow, 
the  sinfulness  of  this  Erastian  practice  still  persisted  in,  is 
evident  from  the  Scriptures  of  truth,  where  the  glorious  king 
of  Zion  assigns  the  power  of  appointing  fasts,  not  to  the  civil 
magistrate,  but  to  spiritual  office-bearers  in  liis  house.  Jer, 
xiii,  18  :  ''  Say  unto  the  king  and  queen.  Humble  yourselves." 
Here  is  the  office  of  the  prophets  of  the  Lord,  to  enjoin 
humiliation  work  upon  those  that  are  in  civil  authority, 
contrary  to  the  present  practice,  when  kings  and  queens, 
usurping  the  sacred  office,  by  theirauthority,  say  to  ministers, 
"  Humble  yourselves."  See  also,  Joel  i,  13,  14,  and  ii,  15,  16, 
compared  with  Numb,  x,  8-10.  Here  whatever  pertains  to 
these  solemnities,  is  entrusted  to,  and  required  of,  the  min- 


[79] 

isters  of  the  Lord,  without  the  intervention  of  civil  authority.. 
The  same  is  imported  in  Matth.  xvi,  19,  and  xviii,  18  ;  John 
XX,  23 — it  being  manifestly  contained  in  the  power  of  the 
keys  committed,  by  the  church's  head,  to  ecclesiastical  officers. 
Moreover,  this  Erastianism,  flowing  from  a  spiritual  suprem- 
acy exercised  over  the  church,  is  peculiarly  aggravated  by 
these  particulars : — 

1.  That  commonly  these  fasts  have  been  appointed  on  ac- 
count of  wars,  in  which  the  nations  were  engaged,  in  con- 
junction with  gross  anti-christian  idolaters,  who  have  been 
most  active  in  their  endeavors  to  root  out  protestantism, 
^ow,  it  cannot  but  be  most  provoking  to  the  Majesty  of 
Heaven  for  professed  Presbyterians  to  observe  fasts,  the  pro- 
fessed design  of  which,  includes  success  to  the  interest  of  the 
avowed  enemies  of  our  glorious  Redeemer.  Again,  the 
above  practice  is  aggravated,  from  this  consideration,  that 
these  diets  of  fasting,  with  civil  pains  annexed  to  them,  are 
sent  by  public  proclamation,  directed  to  their  sheriffs  and 
other  subordinate  civil  officers,  who  are  authorized  to  dispatch 
them  to  the  ministers,  and  inspect  their  observation  thereof. 
And  while  professed  ministers  of  Christ  tamely  comply  with 
all  this,  it  amounts  to  no  less,  than  a  base  subjection  of  the 
worship  of  God,  in  the  solemnity  of  fasting  in  a  national 
way,  to  the  arbitrament  of  the  civil  powers,  when  whatever 
time  and  causes  they  appoint,  must  be  observed. 

From  all  which,  in  the  words  of  the  ministers  of  Perth  and 
jF'(/e,  in  their  testimony  to  the  truth,  &c.,  1658,  the  presby- 
tery testify  against  the  above  Erastian  conduct,  as  being,  in 
its  own  nature,  introductory  to  greater  encroachments,  and 
putting  into  the  hands  of  the  civil  powers,  the  modeling  of 
the  worship  of  God,  and  things  most  properly  ecclesiastical. 

5.  Another  piece  of  Erastianism,  respecting  the  present 
administration,  which  the  presbytery  testify  against,  is  the 
king  and  parliament  their  arbitrarily  imposing  several  of 
their  acts  and  statutes  upon  ministers  and  preachers,  under 
ecclesiastical  pains  and  censures;  while  this  Revolution 
Church,  by  their  silent  submission  and  compliance  therewith, 
have,  at  least,  interpretatively  given  their  consent  thereto. 
Thus,  as  the  oaths  of  allegiance  and  assurance  were  enjoined 
upon  all  in  ecclesiastical  office,  under  the  pain  of  church 
censure  (of  which  above),  so  likewise,  act  6th,  1706,  ordains, 
"That  no  professors  and  principals,  bearing  office  in  any  uni- 
versity, be  capable,  or  be  admitted,  to  continue  in  the  exer- 
cise of  their  said  functions,  but  such  as  shall  own  the  civil 
government,  in  manner  prescribed,  or  to  be  prescribed  by  acts 
of  parliament."   In  consequence  of  which,  there  is  an  act  1707,. 


[80] 

an  act  in  the  first  year  of  king  George  I,  and  another  in  the 
tiftli  year  of  his  reign;  by  all  which   statutes,  ecclesiastical 
persons  are  enjoined  to  take  the  oath  of  abjuration,  with  the 
other  oaths,  under  the  pain  of  having  ecclesiastical  censures 
inflicted  upon  them.     And  they  ordain,  "  That  no  person  be 
admitted   to   trials,  or  licensed  to  preach,  until  they  have 
taken  the  public  oaths,  on  pain  of  being  disabled."     The 
foresaid  act,  in  the  fifth  year  of  George  I,  ordains  "  all  minis- 
ters and  preachers  to  pray  in  express  words  for  his  majesty 
and  the  royal  family,  as  in  former  acts."     The  king  and  par- 
liament at  their  own  hand  prescribe  a  set  form  of  prayer  for 
the  Church  of  Scotland^  and  that  under  Erastian  penalties, 
upon  the  disobeyers.     Again,  by  an  act  of  1737,  framed  for 
the  more  eftectual  bringing  to  justice  the  murderers  of  Cap- 
tain Forteous^  it  is  enacted,  "  That  this  act  shall  be  read  in 
every  parish  church  throughout  Scotland^  on  the  first  Lord's 
day  of  every  month,  for  one  whole  year,  from  the  first  day  of 
August,  1737,  by  the  minister  of  the  parish,  in  the  morning, 
immediately  before  the  sermon ;  and,  in  case  such  ministers 
shall  neglect  to  read  this  act,  as  is  here  directed,  he  shall,  for 
the  first  oftense,  be  declared  incapable  of  sitting  or  voting  in 
any  church  judicatory;  and  for  the  second  ofiense,  be  de- 
clared incapable  of  taking,  holding  or  enjoying  any  ecclesi- 
astical benefice  in  that  part  of  Great  JBritamcsiWed  Scotland.^' 
The  Erastianism  of  this  act  is  very  plain,  the  penalties  thereof 
are  ecclesiastical,  and  infer  a  kind  of  deposition  ;  seeing  the 
disobeyers  are  hereby  disabled  from  exercising  and  enjoying 
what  is  essential  to  their  office.     Moreover,  the  wickedness 
of  this  act  appears,  in  that  it  was  appointed  to  be  read  on  the 
Sabbath  day,  and  in  time  of  divine  service ;  whereby  minis- 
ters being   constituted    the  magistrates'  heralds  to  proclaim 
this  act,  were  obliged  to  profane  the  Lord's  day,  and  corrupt 
his    worship,   by    immixing   human    inventions   therewith, 
which  was  directly  a  framing  mischief  into  a  law.     Yet,  with 
all  these  impositions  above  noticed,  this  church  has  generally 
complied ;  and  thereby  declared  that  they  are  more  studious 
of  pleasing  and  obeying  men,  than  God,  seeing  their  practice 
therein  infers  no  less,  tlian  a  taking  instructions  in  the  minis- 
terial function,  and  matters  of  divine  worship,  from  another 
head  than  Christ. 

6.  The  last  piece  of  Erastian  administration  in  church  and 
state,  the  presbytery  take  notice  of,  and  testify  against,  is  that 
of  patronages.  When  the  parliament  1690,  had  changed  the 
form  of  patronages,  by  taking  the  power  of  presentations 
from  patrons,  and  lodging  it  in  the  hands  of  such  heritors 
and  elders  as  were  qualified  by  law,  excluding  the  people 


[81 J 

from  a  vote  in  calling  their  ministers,  this  Erastian  act, 
spoiling  the  people  of  their  just  privilege,  was  immediately 
emhraced  by  the  church,  as  is  evident  from  their  overtures 
for  church  discipline,  1696,  where  they  declare  that  only 
heritors  and  elders  have  a  proper  right  to  vote  in  the  nomi- 
nation of  a  minister.  Also  their  overtures,  1705  and  1719, 
do  lodge  the  sole  power  of  nomination  of  ministers  in  the 
hands  of  the  majority  of  heritors,  by  giving  them  a  negative 
over  the  eldership  and  congregation.  But,  as  if  this  had  not 
been  a  sufficient  usurpation  of  the  people's  right,  purchased 
to  them  by  the  blood  of  Christ,  by  an  act  of  parliament,  1712, 
the  above  act,  1690,  is  repealed,  and  [)atrons  fully  restored  to 
all  their  former  anti-christian  powers  over  the  heritage  of  the 
Lord ;  which  yoke  still  continues  to  oppress  the  people  of 
God.  While  again,  this  church,  as  if  more  careful  to  please 
the  court,  and  court  parasites,  than  Christ  and  his  people, 
have  not  only  peaceably  fallen  in  with  this  change,  daily  prac- 
ticing it  in  planting  vacant  congregations,  but,  as  fond  of 
this  child  of  Borne,  have  further  established  and  confirmed 
the  power  of  patrons,  by  the  sanction  of  their  authority,  as 
appears  from  several  acts  of  assembly,  thereby  declaring 
their  resolutions  to  have  this  epidemic  evil  continued, 
though  it  should  terminate  in  the  utter  ruin  of  the  church. 
Patronage  was  always  by  the  Church  of  Scotland  since  the 
reformation,  accounted  an  intolerable  yoke ;  and  therefore 
she  never  ceased  contending  against  it  until  it  was  at  last 
utterly  abolished  by  acts  both  of  reforming  assemblies  and 
parliaments  ;  and  that  as  one  of  the  inventions  of  the  whore 
of  Home. 

As  this  anti-christian  practice  was  unknown  to  the  church 
in  her  primitive  and  purest  times,  until  gradually  introduced 
with  other  popish  corruptions,  so  it  has  not  the  least  vestige 
of  any  warrant  in  the  word  of  truth :  nay,  is  directly  oppo- 
site thereto,  and  to  the  apostolical  practice :  Acts  i,  15-24  ; 
chap,  vi,  2-7:  as  also,  xiv,  23,  and  xvi,  9,  with  other  passages 
therein  ; — a  book,  intended  to  give  us  the  apostolical  practice 
and  pattern,  in  the  settlement  of  the  Christian  church  :  and 
2  Cor.  iii,  19,  &c.  Wherefore  the  presbytery  testify  against 
this  Erastian  usurpation,  as  most  sinful  in  itself,  most  injuri- 
ous to  the  church  of  Christ,  and  inconsistent  with  the  great 
ends  of  the  ministry  ;  and  against  this  church,  for  not  only 
submitting  unto,  but  even  promoting  this  wickedness  ;  Avhich 
is  evident,  from  her  deposing  some  of  her  members,  for  no 
other  reason  but  because  they  could  not  approve  of  this  per- 
nicious scheme.  Witness  Mr.  Gillespie,  minister  at  Carnock, 
who  was  deposed  May,  1752:  and  against  all  violent  intru- 


ders,  who,  not  entering  by  the  door,  can  be  regarded  only  as 
thieves  and  robbers,  John  x,  1. 

These  are  a  few  of  the  many  instances  of  the  Erastian 
usurpations  of  the  headship  of  Christ,  as  a  Son,  in  and  over 
his  own  house,  and  of  the  church's  intrinsic  power  assumed 
by  the  state,  and  consented  to  by  this  church  since  the 
Revohition.*  And  without  condescending  upon  any  more, 
the  presbytery  concludes  this  part,  with  observing  upon  the 
whole,  that  when  Henry  YIII  of  England  did  cast  oft"  the 

*  Besides  the  above  instances  of  that  unholy,  tyrannical,  and  church- 
robbing  policy,  which  has  been  exercised  by  the  supreme  civil  powers  in 
these  nations  with  reference  to  religi()n  and  the  worship  of  God,  all  of  which 
existed  when  the  presbytery  first  publi^hed  their  testimony,  there  has,  of 
late,  a  very  singuhir  instance  of  the  same  kind  occurred,  in  the  course  of 
administration, "which  the  presbytery  cannot  forbear  to  take  notice  of,  but 
must  embrace  the  present  opportunity  to  declare  their  sense  of,  and  testify 
against ;  and  especially,  as  it  is  one  that  carries  a  more  striking  evidence 
than  any  of  the  former,  of  our  public  national  infidelity  and  licentiousness, 
xind  of  our  being  judicially  infatuated  in  our  national  counsels,  and  given 
up  of  heaven  to  proceed  from  evil  to  worse,  in  the  course  of  apostasy  from 
the  cause  and  principle  of  the  reformation.  We  particularly  mean  the  in- 
stance of  a  late  bill  or  act,  which  has  been  agreed  upon  by  both  houses  of 
parliament,  and  which  also,  June,  1774,  was  sanctioned  with  the  royal 
assent,  entitled  "An  act  for  making  more  effectual  provision  for  the  govern- 
ment of  the  province  of  Quebec  in  North  America."  By  which  act,  not 
only  is  French  despotism,  or  arbitrary  power,  settled  as  the  form  of  civil 
government,  but,  Avhich  is  still  worse,  popery,  the  Religio:i  of  Antichrist, 
with  all  its  idolatries  and  blasphemies,  has  such  security  and  establish- 
ment granted  it,  as  to  be  taken  immediately  under  the  legal  protection  of 
the  supreme  civil  authority  of  these  nations  in  that  vast  and  extensive 
region  of  Canada,  lately  added  to  the  British  dominions  of  North 
America — a  province  so  large  and  fertile,  that  it  is  said  to  be  capable  of 
•containing,  if  fully  peopled,  not  less  than  thirty  millions  of  souls.  This 
infamous  and  injurious  bill,  before  it  passed  into  a  law,  was  publicly  repro- 
bated and  declaimed  against  by  sundry  members  of  both  houses.  It  has 
been  petitioned  and  remonstrated  against  by  the  most  respectable  civil  body 
corporated  in  Britain,  or  its  dominions,  the  city  of  London;  by  all  the 
provinces  of  North  America  south  of  Quebec;  and  even  by  the  inhabitants 
of  the  city  of  Quebec  itself.  It  has  been,  in  the  most  public  manner,  in 
open  parliament,  declared  to  be  "a  most  cruel,  oppressive,  and  odious 
measure — a  child  of  inordinate  power,"  &c.  All  which  are  sufficient 
indications  how  scandalous,  offensive,  and  obnoxious  this  act  was.  There 
was  afterward,  in  the  month  of  May,  1775,  a  bill  brought  into  the  house  of 
lords,  in  order  to  effectuate  the  repeal  of  the  foresaid  disgraceful  act,  when, 
in  the  course  of  public  debate,  it  was  represented  by  those  few  members  of 
the  house  who  appeared  in  the  opposition,  as  "one  of  the  most  destructive, 
most  despoiic,  most  nefarious  acts  that  ever  passed  the  house  of  peers." 
But  all  in  vain — the  repeal  could  not  be  effected. 

And  moreover,  let  it  be  further  observed  here,  that  the  bench  of  bishops 
in  the  house  of  peers,  who  assume  the  antichristian  title  of  spiritual  lords, 
and  pretend  to  claim  a  seat  in  parliauient  for  the  care  of  religion,  during 
the  whole  course  of  this  contest,  instead  of  appearing  for  the  Protestant 
interest,  have,  to  their  lasting  infimy,  publicly  distinguished  themselves  in 
opj)osilion  to   it,  by — "Standing  forth  the  avowed  supporters  of  popery." 

The  presbytery,  therefore,  find  themselves  in  duty  obliged,  in  their  judi- 
cative capacity,  principally  in   behalf  of  the   rights  and   interests  of  the 


[83] 

authonty  of  the  see  of  Rome,  and  refused  to  give  that 
subjection  to  the  pope  formerly  paid  by  him  and  his  prede- 
cessors ;  he  did,  at  the  same  time,  assume  to  himself  all  that 
power  in  his  dominions,  which  the  pope  formerly  claimed ; 
and  soon  afterward  procured  to  have  himself  acknowledged 
and  declared,  by  act  of  parliament,  to  be  head  of  the  church — 
head  over  all  persons,  and  in  all  causes,  civil  and  ecclesiasti- 
cal. And  which  antichristian  supremacy  has,  ever  since, 
continued  an  essential  part  of  the  English  constitution,  and 

great  God  and  of  his  Son  Jesus  Christ  our  Redeemer — that  is  to  say,  in 
behalf  of  the  rijrhtsof  truth,  true  religion,  and  righteousness  among  men, 
which  he  ever  owns  as  his,  to  add,  as  they  hereby  do,  their  public  testi- 
mony against  this  nefandous  national  deed,  so  manifestly  injurious  to  all 
these. 

Tlie  presbytery  do  not,  as  some  others,  found  their  testimony  against  this 
extravagant  act  establishing  poper}^  &c  ,  in  Canada,  solely  or  simply  on  its 
injuriousness  to  the  private  interests  of  men — tlieir  bodily  lives,  goods,  or 
outward  privileges;  nor  do  they  declare  against  and  condemn  it  merely  be- 
cause that  religion  which  is  sanctioned  with  this  national  decree  and  en- 
gagement for  its  defense  is  a  sanguinary  one:  "Has  deluged  our  island  in 
blood,  and  dispersed  impiety,  persecution,  and  murder,  &c  ,  through  the 
world."  (See  an  address  from  the  general  congress  to  the  people  of  Great 
Britain.)  These  are  all  indeed  incontestible  proofs  that  it  is  not  the  re- 
ligion of  the  divine  Jesus,  but  of  antichrist.  Nevertheless,  the  same  have 
been  known  to  be  the  staple  and  constant  fruits  of  prelacy  too,  which,  to  the 
extent  of  its  reach  and  influence,  has  as  much  Christian  blood  wrapped  up 
in  its  skirts  as  popery,  if  not  more.  Nor  yet  is  it  merely  on  account  that 
it  is  greatly  injurious,  as  indeed  it  is,  and  a  notorious  breach  of  the  public 
faith  to  the  British  Protestant  settlers  in  that  provitice.  The  presbytery's 
particular  objections  against  this  extraordinary  measure  are  of  a  different 
quality.     They  are  briefly  such  as  follow : — 

1.  "Yhe  iniquity  of  \i  against  God.  It  is  certainly  a  deed  highly  pro- 
voking and  dishonoring  to  the  God  of  heaven.  For  (1),  it  is  a  giving  that 
public  protection  and  countenance  to  a  lie,  i,  e.  to  idolatry  and  false  wor- 
ship (and  to  antichristian  idolatry,  the  worst  of  all  other),  which  is  only 
due  to  the  truth  of  God.  It  is  a  devoting  and  giving  our  national  power 
to  the  preservation  of  the  lite  of  the  Romish  beast,  after  the  deadly  wound 
given  it  by  the  Reformation.  And  therefore  (2),  a  most  wretched  prosti- 
tution of  the  ordinance  of  civil  power,  sacred  by  its  divine  institution,  to 
be  a  terror  and  restraint  to  evil  doers,  and  a  praise  to  them  that  do  well, 
Rom.  xiii, — to  the  quite  contrary  purposes.  What  right  haveopen  idolaters 
and  blasphemers  to  be  protected  and  supported  by  any  ordinance  of  God  in 
the  public  acts  of  their  idolatry  ?  And  how  awful  is  it  to  think  (3),  that  it 
is  a  setting  ourselves  openly  to  fight  against  God,  in  a  national  engage- 
ment to  support  and  defend  what  God  has  declared  and  testified  to  us  in 
his  word,  he  will  have  destroyed;  and  wherein  he  expressly  forbids 
giving  the  least  countenance  to  idolatry.  And  shall  we  thus  harden  our- 
selves against  God  and  prosper?  (4),  As  this  last  instance  of  our  profane 
national  polic)^  is  a  still  more  open  discovery  of  our  incorrigibleness  in  our 
apostasy,  so  it  is  also  the  most  striking  of  all  the  foi'merof  that  Eraslianism 
and  spiritual  supremacy  exercised  by  the  civil  powers  in  these  lands  over 
the  church  and  kingdom  of  Christ.  Herein  we  have  an  open  and  avowed 
justification  of  that  antiscriplural  right  and  power  claimed  by  them  to  settle 
and  establish  whatever  mode  of  religion  they  please,  or  is  most  agreeable  to 
the  inclinations  of  the  people,  or  which  best  answers  tiieir  worldly  political 
purposes,  although  it  should  be  the  religion  of  Satan  in  place  of  that  of 


[84] 

inherent  right  of  the  crown  ;  so  that  all  the  crowned  heads 
there,  have  ever  since  been  as  little  popes  over  that  realm: 
and  that  all  such  still  ap])ropriate  unto  themselves  that  blas- 
phemous antichristian  title  of  the  head  of  the  church,  and 
supreme  judge  in  all  causes,  is  undeniably  evident  from  the 
known  laws  and  canons  of  England :  and  further  appears 
from  a  declaration  made  by  King  George  I,  June  13th,  1715, 
where  he  styles  himself  Defender  of  the  faith^  and  supreme 
Governor  of  the  church  in  his  dominions;  declaring,  that  before 
the   clergy  can    order  or   settle   any    differences   about  the 

Christ.  This  has  been  the  great  leading  principle  all  along  since  the 
Revolution,  bnt  never  more  openly  discovered  than  in  this  instance.  Upon 
all  which  it  may  appear  how  sinful  and  provoking  to  the  divine  Majesty 
this  act  must  be. 

2.  The  foUy  and  sTiamefulness  of  it  as  to  ourselves.  How  disgraceful 
and  dishonorable  is  this  public  act  in  favor  of  popery,  even  to  the  nation 
itself,  and  its  representatives,  who  are  the  authors  of  it.  How  palpably 
inconsistent  is  it  with  our  national  character  and  profession  as  Protestant, 
and  with  our  national  establishments,  civil  and  ecclesiastical  (both  which 
are  professedly  built  upon  reformation  from  popery),  to  come  to  take 
that  idolatrous  religion  under  our  national  protection,  and  become  de- 
fenders oi  \Me  antichristian  faith;  nay,  were  it  competent  for  the  presby- 
tery as  a  spiritual  court,  and  spiritual  watchmen,  to  view  this  act  in  a  civil 
light,  they  might  show  at  large,  that  it  is  a  violation  of  the  fundamental 
national  constitutions  of  the  kingdom,  and  reaches  a  blow  to  the  credit 
of  the  legal  security  granted  to  the  Protestant  religion  at  home.  We 
need  not  here  mention  how^  contrary  this  act  is  to  the  fundamental  laws 
and  c(mstitutions  of  the  kingdom  of  Scotland,  which  are  now^  set  aside. 
But  it  is  contrary  to,  and  a  manifest  violation  of  the  Revolution  and  British 
constituti(m  itself;  contrary  to  the  Claim  of  Right,  yea,  to  the  oath  solemnly 
sworn  by  every  English  and  British  sovereign  upon  their  accession  to  the 
throne,  as  settled  by  an  act  of  the  English  pvirliament  in  the  first  year  of 
William  III.  By  which  they  are  obliged  to  "profess,  and  to  the  utmost  of 
their  jiower  maintain,  in  all  their  dominions,  the  laws  of  God,  the  true  pro- 
fession of  the  gospel,  and  the  true  reformed  religion  established  bylaw." 
But  these  things  the  presbytery  leave  to  such  w  horn  it  may  more  properly 
concern.  Let  it,  however,  be  observed  that  the  presbytery  are  not  here  to 
be  interpreted  as  approving  of  the  abovesaid  oath,  as  it  designedly  oljliges 
to  the  maintenance  of  the  abjured  English  hierarchy  and  popish  ceremo- 
nies, which  might  better  be  called  a  true  reformed  lie,  than  the  true  re- 
formed religion.  Nevertheless,  this  being  the  British  coronation  oath,  it 
clearly  determines  that  all  legal  establishments  behoove  to  be  Protestant, 
and  that  without  a  violation  of  said  oath,  no  other  religion  can  be  taken 
under  protection  of  law  but  what  is  called  Protestant  religion  cmly. 

The  presbytery  conclude  the  whole  of  this  additional  remark  with 
observing,  Tliat  as  in  the  Ibrmer  instances  of  the  exercise  of  this  Erastian 
power  above  mentioned,  the  present  church  of  Scotland  never  gave  evi- 
dence of  her  fidelity  to  Cbrist,  so  far  as  to  testify  against  them  ;  so  their 
assembly  has,  in  a  like  supine,  senseless  manner,  conducted  themselves 
with  reference  to  this  last  and  most  alarming  instjince.  Notwithstanding 
all  that  has  been  remonstrated  against  it,  and  in  favor  of  the  reformed  reli- 
gion, they  have  remained  mute  and  silent,  which  indeed  evidences  them 
not  to  be  truly  deserving  of  the  ehanicter  of  venei able  and  revennd,  which 
they  jissume  to  the  mselves,  but  rather  tliat  of  an  association;  or,  in  the 
words  of  the  weeping  prophet,  an  assembly  of  treacherous  men:  Jer.  ix,  2. 


[85J 

external  policy  of  the  cliurch,  they  must  first  obtain  leave 
under  his  broad  seal  so  to  do.  Which  title  or  authority  for 
man,  or  angel,  to  assume,  is  a  downright  dethroning  and  ex- 
auctorating  of  Christ,  the  only  and  alone  Head  and  Supreme 
Governor  of  his  church.  From  this  spiritual  antichristian 
supremac}',  granted  by  English  laws  to  the  king  of  England, 
confirmed  and  establislied,  by  virtue  of  the  incorporating 
union,  in  British  kings,  by  acts  of  Britisli  parliament,  do 
fiow  all  the  forementioned  acts  imposed  upon  the  Revolution 
Church  of  Scotland.  And  as  these  acts  and  laws  declare, 
that  the  British  monarch  confines  not  his  spiritual  supremacy 
to  the  church  of  England,  but  it  extends  it  also  over  the  church 
of  Scotland:  so  this  Revolution  Church,  having  never  either 
judicially  or  practically  lifted  up  the  standard  of  a  public, 
free  and  faithful  testimony,  against  these  sinful  usurpations, 
flowing  from  the  fountain  of  said  supremacy,  and  clothed 
with  the  authority  of  an  antichristain  parliament,  where 
abjured  bishops  sit  constituent  members,  but,  on  the  con- 
trary, has  submitted  to  every  one  of  them  ;  therefore,  thia 
church  may  justly  be  constructed,  as  approvers  and  main- 
tainers  of  Erastian  supremacy.  And  hereby,  indeed,  the 
revolt  of  these  degenerate  lands  from  their  sworn  subjection 
and  obedience  to  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  as  supreme  in  his 
own  house,  is  completed,  when  they  have  these  many  years 
substituted  another  in  his  place,  and  framed  supremacy  into 
a  standing  law,  to  be  the  rule,  according  to  which  their 
kings  must,  lord  it  over  the  house  and  heritage  of  the  living 
God.     Again : 

The  presbytery  testify  against  the  manifold,  and  almost 
uninterrupted  opposition  to  the  ancient  glorious  uni- 
formity in  religion  between  the  nations,  that  has  appeared  in 
the  administrations  of  both  church  and  state,  since  the 
last  Revolution.  The  revolution  constitution  and  settlement 
of  religion,  as  has  been  already  observed,  laid  our  solemn 
covenants  and  work  of  reformation,  sworn  to  therein,  in  a 
grave,  and  many  stones  have  since  been  brought  and  cast 
upon  them:  many  ways  and  measures  have  both  church  and 
state  taken  to  make  sure  the  revolution  sepulcher  of  a  cove- 
nanted work  of  reformation,  and  prevent,  if  possible,  its 
future  resurrection:  against  all  which,  the  presbytery  judge 
themselves  bound  to  lift  up  their  testimony.     Particularly, 

1.  The  presbytery  testify  against  the  incorporating  union 
of  this  nation  with  England;  and  as  being  an  union  founded 
upon  an  open  violation  of  all  the  articles  of  the  Solemn 
League  and  Covenant, still  binding  upon  the  nations;  and, 
consequently,   destructive   of  that    uniformity    in    religion. 


[86J  ' 

once  happily  attained  to  by  them:  which  will  at  first  view 
appear,  by  comparing  the  articles  of  the  union  with  those  of 
the  b^olemn  League.  All  associations  and  confederacies  with 
the  enemies  of  true  religion  and  godliness,  are  expressly  con- 
denjned  in  scripture,  and  represented  as  dangerous  to  the  true 
Israel  of  God :  Isa.  viii,  12;  Jer.  ii,  28  ;  Psal.  cvi,  35  ;  Hos, 
V.  13,  and  vii,  8,  11 ;  2  Cor.  vi,  14,  15.  And  if  simple  con- 
federacies with  malignants  and  enemies  to  the  cause  of 
Christ  are  condemned,  much  more  is  an  incorporation  with 
them,  which  is  an  embodying  of  two  into  one,  and,  therefore, 
a  straiter  conjunction.  And  taking  the  definition  of  ma- 
lignants, given  by  the  declaration  of  both  kingdoms  joined 
in  arms,  anno  1643,  to  be  just,  which  says,  "such  as  would 
not  take  the  covenant,  were  declared  to  be  public  enemies  to 
their  religion  and  country,  and  that  they  are  to  be  censured 
and  punished,  as  professed  adversaries  and  malignants ;"  it 
cannot  be  refused,  but  that  the  prelatical  party  in  Englandy 
now  joined  with,  are  such.  Further,  by  this  incorporating 
union,  this  nation  is  obliged  to  support  the  idolatrous  Church 
of  England;  agreeable  whereto,  the  Scottish  parliament,  in 
their  act  of  security,  relative  to  the  treaty  of  union,  declares, 
"  that  the  parliament  of  England  may  provide  for  the  secu- 
rity of  the  Church  of  England^  as  they  think  expedient." 
Accordingly,  the  English  parliament,  before  entering  upon 
the  treaty  of  union  with  Scotland,  framed  an  act  for  securing 
the  Church  of  England's  hierarchy  and  worship,  as  by  law 
established.  Which  act,  they  declare,  "  Shall  be  inserted,  in 
express  terms,  in  any  act  of  parliament  which  shall  be  made 
for  settling  and  ratifying  any  treaty  of  union,  and  shall  be 
declared  to  be  an  essential  fundamental  part  thereof."  Hence, 
the  act  of  the  English  parliament  for  the  union  of  the  two 
kingdoms,  contains  the  above  act  for  securing  the  Church 
of  England.  Which  act  being  sent  down  to  Scotland,  stands 
recorded  among  the  acts  of  the  last  Scottish  parliament. 
Moreover,  the  last  article  of  said  union  contains,  that  all 
laws  and  statutes  in  either  kingdom,  so  far  as  they  are  con- 
trary to,  or  inconsistent  with  the  terms  of  these  articles,  or 
any  of  them,  shall,  from  and  after  the  union,  cease  and 
become  void;  which,  as  in  the  act  of  exemplification,  was 
declared  to  be,  by  the  parliaments  of  both  kingdoms.  Thus, 
this  nation,  by  engrossing  the  Engli^^h  act,  establishing  pre- 
lacy, and  all  the  superstitious  ceremonies,  in  the  act  of  the 
union  parliament,  and  by  annulling  all  acts  contrary  to  the 
united  settlement,  have  sealed,  as  far  as  men  can  do,  the 
grave-stones  formerly  laid  upon  the  covenanted  un  formity 
of  the  nations.     To  all  which  the  revolution  church,  by  con- 


[87J 

senting,  and  practically  approving  this  unhallowed  union, 
have  said  Amen ;  though,  at  first,  some  of  the  members 
opposed  and  preached  against  it,  yet  afterward  changed,  and 
(if  some  historians  may  be  credited)  by  the  influence  of 
gold,  were  swayed  to  an  approbation.  This  church's  consent 
to  the  union  is  evident,  from  their  accepting  of  the  act  of 
security,  enacted  by  the  Scots  parliament,  as  the  legal  estab- 
lishment and  security  of  the  Church  of  Scotland;  and  from 
the  assembly  1715,  utterly  rejecting  a  proposal  to  make  a 
representation  to  the  king,  that  the  incorporating  union  was 
a  grievance  to  the  Church  of  Scotland;  though  it  ought 
still  to  be  regarded  as  such,  by  all  the  lovers  of  reformation 
principles,  because  it  is  a  disclaiming  of  our  sworn  duty,  to 
endeavor  the  reformation  of  England  and  Ireland,  It  is  a 
consenting  to  the  legal  and  unalterable  establishment  of 
abjured  prelacy  in  them,  obliges  the  sovereigns  of  Great 
Britain  to  swear  to  the  preservation  of  the  prelatical  consti- 
tution, and  idolatrous  ceremonies  of  the  episcopal  church, 
and  join  in  communion  therewith ;  and,  therefore,  for  ever 
secludes  all  true  I^resbyterians  from  the  supreme  rule.  This 
union  establishes  the  civil,  lordly  power  of  bishops,  obliging 
the  Church  of  Scotland  to  acknowledo;e  them  as  their  lawful 
magistrates  and  ministers,  to  pray  for  a  blessing  upon  them 
in  the  exercise  of  their  civil  power,  and  is  therefore  a  solemn 
ratification  of  antichristian  Erastianism.  It  has  formally 
rescinded,  and  for  ever  made  void  any  act  or  acts,  in  favor  of 
a  covenanted  uniformity  in  religion,  that  might  be  supposed 
to  be  in  force  before  this  union :  and  therefore,  while  it 
stands,  it  is  impossible  there  can  be  a  revival  of  that  blessed 
work,  which  was  once  the  glory  of  the  nations  of  Scotland, 
England  and  Ireland. 

2.  The  presbytery  testify  against  the  sinful  practice  of 
imposing  oaths  upon  the  subjects,  contradictory  to  presbyte- 
rian  principles  in  general,  and  the  oath  of  the  covenants  in 
particular,  as  the  allegiance,  and  particularly  the  abjuration  ; 
all  which  oaths,  imposed  by  a  British  parliament,  exclude  our 
covenanted  uniformity,  and  homologate  the  united  constitu- 
tion. But,  to  prevent  mistakes,  let  it  be  here  observed,  that 
the  presbytery  do  not  testify  against  any  of  these  oaths,  out 
of  the  remotest  regard  to  the  spurious  pretended  right  of  a 
popish  pretender  to  the  tlironeand  crown  of  these  kingdoms  ; 
for  they  judge  and  declare,  that,  by  the  word  of  God,  and 
fundamental  laws  of  the  nations,  he  can  have  no  right,  title 
or  claim,  to  be  king  of  these  covenanted  kingdoms — seeing, 
by  our  covenants  and  laws,  establishing  the  covenanted 
reformation,  which  are  well  founded  on   the  divine  law,  all 


[88J 

papists,  as  well  as  prelatists,  are  forever  excluded  from  the 
throne  of  these,  and  especially  of  this  land.  So  that  it  is 
utterly  inconsistent  with  the  principles  maintained  hy  this 
presbyter}',  constituted  upon  the  footing  of  the  covenanted 
church  of  Scotland,  and  the  oath  of  God  they,  with  the 
nations,  are  under,  ever  to  acknowledge  and  own  the  popish 
l^retender,  or  any  of  that  cursed  race,  as  their  king  \  but  they 
testify  against  these  oaths,  because  they  bind  to  the  acknow- 
ledgment of  the  lawfulness  of  a  prelatic  Erastian  constitution 
of  civil  government,  and  liomologate  the  incorporating  union, 
in  one  article  whereof,  it  is  declared,  that  these  w^ords,  ''  This 
realm,  and  the  crown  of  this  realm,  &c.,"  mentioned  in  the 
oaths,  shall  be  understood  of  the  crown  and  realm  of  Great 
Britain,  &c.;  and  that  in  that  sense  the  said  oaths  shall  be 
taken  and  subscribed,  and  particularly  the  oath  of  abjuration, 
which  whosoever  takes,  swears  to  maintain  Erastian  su- 
premacy, prelacy,  and  English  popish  ceremonies ;  and  so,  at 
least,  by  native  and  necessary  consequence,  the  swearing 
thereof  is  an  abjuring  of  our  sacred  covenants.  But  that 
which  puts  it  beyond  all  dispute,  that  the  oath  of  abjuration, 
in  the  literal  sense  thereof,  obliges  to  maintain  the  prelatic 
constitution  of  En  gland, hoth  in  church  and  state,  as  bylaw 
established,  and  secured  by  the  union  act,  is  the  express 
words  of  tliat  act  of  parliament,  by  which  this  oath  was 
imposed,  and  to  which  it  expressly  refers,  viz :  the  act  of 
further  limitation,  where  it  is  said :  *'  On  which  said  acts 
(viz:  of  limitation,  and  further  limitation),  the  preservation 
of  your  majesty's  voynl  person  and  government,  and  the 
maintaining  of  the  church  of  England,  as  by  law  established, 
do,  under  God,  entirely  depend.  To  the  intent  therefore, 
that  these  acts  may  be  forever  inviolably  preserved,  it  is 
hereby  enacted,  that  magistrates  and  ministers  shall  take  the 
following  oath,"  namely,  of  abjuration.  The  above  act,  then, 
declaring  that  said  oath  was  directly  intended  for  the  support 
and  establishment  of  the  prelatic  church  of  England,  it 
follows,  that  this  oath  is  a  solemn  abjuration  of  the  cove- 
nanted reformation,  as  it  is  also  expressly  repugnant  to 
Presbyterian  principles.  But  though  the  above  oath  is  so 
manifestly  sinful,yet  the  ministers  of  this  church  did  neither 
faithfully  warn  others  of  the  sin  and  danger  thereof,  nor 
faithfully  oppose  it  when  im[)Osed  on  themselves;  but, 
agreeing  that  every  one  should  act  therein  as  he  thought 
proper,  tliey  who  refused  it  may  be  reputed  socii  criniinis 
with  the  generality,  wlio,  contrary  to  their  professed  prin- 
ciples, did  take  and  subscribe  the  same,  and  that  (assays  the 
oath)  heartily  and  willingly  ;  whereby  they  not  only  engaged 


[89] 

to  maintain  a  prelatic  government,  prelacy,  with  all  its  popish 
ceremonies,  hut  to  maintain  only  a  prelatic  government,  and 
to  oppose  all  others,  even  though  Preshyterian,  in  their  ac- 
cession to  the  throne;  and  this hy  virtue  of  the  sinful  limita- 
tions and  conditions,  wherewith  the  oath  is  clogged.  And 
herehy,  these  nominal  Treshyterians  discover  that  they  are 
not  possessed  of  a  zeal  for  the  advancement  of  the  true 
Preshyterian  cause  and  principles  proportionable  to  that 
whicli  the  English  discover  for  their  will  worship  and 
superstition. 

8.  The  presbytery  testify  against  a  sinful  and  almost 
boundless  toleration,  granted  anno  1712,  a  woful  fruit  of  the 
union  ;  by  which  toleration  act,  not  only  those  of  the  Epis- 
copal communion  in  Scotland  have  the  protection  of  author- 
ity, but  a  wide  door  is  cast  open,  and  ample  pass  given  to  all 
sects  and  heretics  (popish  recusants  and  anti-trinitarians  some 
way  excepted,  who  yet  are  numerous  in  the  nation),  to  make 
whatever  attacks  they  please  upon  the  kingdom  and  interest 
of  our  glorious  Redeemer,  in  order  to  the  advancement  of 
their  own  and  the  devil's,  and  all  with  impunity.  The  fore- 
said act  warrants  the  Episcopal  clergy  publicly  to  administer 
all  ordinances,  and  perform  their  worship  after  their  own 
manner,  with  all  the  |:)Opish  canons  and  ceremonies  thereof, 
and  obliges  all  magistrates  to  protect  and  assist  them,  while 
it  destroys  the  hedge  of  church  discipline  against  the  scan- 
dalous and  profane,  and  is,  therefore,  a  settling  and  establish- 
ing of  prelacy  in  Scotland,  giving  it  a  security,  little,  if  any- 
thing, inferior  to  that  which  the  established  church  has. 
Again,  by  a  clause  in  the  toleration  bill,  the  security  given 
by  former  laws  to  Presbyterian  church  government  and  dis- 
cipline, is  undermined  and  taken  away,  at  least  rendered  in- 
effectual, and  made  the  subject  of  ridicule  to  the  openly 
profane,  by  the  civil  magistrate's  withdrawing  his  concurrence, 
in  as  much  as  it  declares  the  civil  pain  of  excommunication 
to  be  taken  away,  and  that  none  are  to  be  compelled  to  ap- 
pear before  church  judicatories.  There  is  nothing  in  religion 
of  an  indifferent  nature;  "  For  whosoever  [saith  Christ]  shall 
break  one  of  the  least  of  these  commandments,  and  shall 
teach  men  so,  shall  be  called  least  in  the  kingdom  of  heaven." 
It  must,  then,  be  the  most  daring  wickedness,  and  an  af- 
fronting of  the  Majesty  of  Heaven  in  the  highest  manner, 
for  an  earthly  monarch  to  pretend  to  enact  a  toleration  of 
religions,  and  thereby  give  a  liberty  where  the  divine  law 
has  laid  a  restraint ;  it  implies  an  exalting  of  himself,  not 
only  to  an  equality  with,  but  to  a  state  of  superiority  above, 
the  God  of  glory.    Whatever  principles  are  of  divine  author- 


[90] 

ity  require  no  toleration  from  man  ;  it  is  wickedness  to  pre- 
tend to  do  it,  seeing  whatever  comes  under  the  necessity  of  a 
toleration,  properly  so-called,  falls,  at  tlie  same  time,  under 
the  notion  of  a  crime.  And  no  less  wicked  is  it  for  a  mag- 
istrate to  protect,  by  a  promiscuous  toleration,  all  heretics, 
heresies  and  errors ;  yea,  it  is  a  manifest  breach  of  trust,  and 
plam  perverting  the  end  of  his  office,  seeing  lie  is  appointed 
to  be  custos  et  vindex  utriusque  tabiike^  intrusted  with  the  con- 
cerns of  God's  glory,  as  well  as  the  interests  of  men.  Ex- 
perience has,  in  every  age,  taught,  that  a  toleration  of  all 
religions  is  the  cut-throat  and  ruin  of  all  true  religion.  It  is 
the  most  effectual  method  that  ever  the  policy  of  hell  hatch- 
ed, to  banish  all  true  godliness  out  of  the  world.  But  how- 
ever manifold  the  evils  be  that  toleration  is  big  with,  this 
church,  instead  of  opposing,  seems  to  have  complied  there- 
with, and  to  be  of  toleration  principles;  which  is  evident, 
not  only  from  their  receiving  into  communion  the  Scots  cur- 
ates, of  which  above;  but  from  their  joining  in  communion 
with  Mr.  Whitffield  (an  English  curate  and  member  of  that 
church,  and  ring-leader  of  the  Methodists  there),  wdien  he  is 
in  Scotland.  Again,  it  is  known,  that  when  the  Scots  gentle- 
men are  sent  to  attend  the  British  parliament,  or  at  any  time 
in  Evgland^  they  do,  many  of  them,  join  in  communion  with 
the  prelatic  church — nay,  are  guilty  of  taking  the  sacra- 
mental test  (that  is,  taking  the  sacrament  after  their  super- 
stitious manner,  to  qualify  them  for  any  public  post) ;  yet 
this  church  receives  them  into  the  closest  communion,  with- 
out requiring  any  satisfaction  for  these  evils ;  whereby  tliey 
act  contrary  to  Christ's  example,  in  purging  and  keeping  his 
house  pure,  and  contrary  to  the  Scripture  ;  Ilev,  ii,  14, 15,  20. 
4.  In  like  manner,  the  presbytery  testify  against  the 
tyranny  that  has  frequently  appeared  in  the  administration 
since  the  revolution,  both  in  church  and  state.  The  civil 
powers  have  discovered  not  a  little  of  tyrannical  and  arbitrary 
power,  in  imposing  their  laws,  statutes  and  injunctions  upon 
the  church,  as  in  the  instances  of  the  particulars  formerly 
noticed.  But  further,  it  has  appeared  in  their  lining  and 
imprisoning  persons,  because  (though  endeavoring  to  live 
peaceably,  as  far  as  possible,  w^ith  all  men)  they  could  not,  in 
conscience,  and  in  due  regard  to  the  covenanted  cause,  own 
the  lawfulness  of  their  autliority,  by  swearing  fidelity  to  the 
present  constitution.  Again,  in  their  dispensing  with,  and 
counteracting  the  law  of  God  in  a  variety  of  instances. 
Thus,  while,  without  any  divine  warrant,  the  crime  of  theft 
is  capitally  punished,  yet  the  grossest  adulterers,  who  are 
capitally  punishable  by  the  divine  law,  pass  with  impunity. 


[91J 

And  frequently  reprieves,  and  sometimes  pardons  (as  in  tbe 
case  of  Forteous)^  have  been  granted  to  murderers,  expressly 
contrary  to  the  law  of  God,  which  declares  that  "Whosoever 
sheddeth  man's  blood,  by  man  shall  his  blood  be  shed."  An- 
other astonishing  and  full  evidence  of  the  above  charge,  is  in 
the  act  repealing  the  penal  statutes  against  witches,  &c., 
1735,  where  it  is  enacted,  '^  That  no  prosecution,  suit  or 
proceeding,  shall  be  carried  on  against  any  person  or  persons, 
for  witchcraft,  sorcery,  enchantment  or  conjuration,"  &c. 
This  act,  in  plain  terms,  Hatly  contradicts  and  opposes  the 
law  of  God,  in  the  very  letter  thereof.  See  Levlt.  xx,  6,  27  ; 
Deut.  xviii,  10-12  ;  Exod.  xxii,  18.  IN'ot  only  has  the  state, 
in  these  and  other  instances  (as  the  imposing  almost  intoler- 
able taxations  upon  the  impoverished  subjects,  for  su|)porting 
the  grandeur  of  useless  and  wicked  pensioners,  and  for  carry- 
ing on  wars,  often  not  only  sinful  in  respect  to  their  rise  and 
causes,  but  in  their  nature  and  tendency  unprofitable  to  the 
nations),  been  guilty  of  this  evil,  but  also  the  Revolution 
Church  has  exercised  a  most  tyrannical  government.  As 
many  of  the  constituent  members  of  the  Revolution  Church 
had  shown  a  persecuting,  tyrannizing  spirit,  against  the 
faithful  contenders  for  the  truth,  in  the  matter  of  the  public 
resolutions,  so  the  same  spirit  has  still  continued  since  the 
revolution,  and  frequently  exerted  itself  in  a  most  arbitrary 
manner,  against  all  wdio  have  made  any  appearance  for  a 
covenanted  work  of  reformation.  Accordingly,  soon  after 
the  revolution,  this  church  raised  some  processes  against  Mr. 
John  Hepburn^  minister  at  On\  under  pretence  of  some  irre- 
gularities, but  in  reality,  for  his  making  some  appearance 
against  their  abounding  defection  and  for  a  covenanted  work 
of  reformation,  and  continued  their  prosecution  to  suspension 
and  deposition ;  and  further,  applied  to  the  civil  magistrate, 
to  apprehend  said  Mr.  Hejpburn^  who  accordingly  was  impris- 
oned in  Edinburgh^  and  then,  because  of  his  preaching  to  the 
people  out  of  a  window,  was  carried  to  Stirling  castle,  and 
kept  close  prisoner  there  for  a  considerable  time,  as  a  book, 
entitled  Humble  Pleadings^  fi^dly  discovers.  They  likewise 
exercised  their  tyranny  against  Messrs.  Gilchrist  in  Dunscoi^e^ 
and  Taylor  in  Wamphray^  whom  they  prosecuted,  not  only 
to  deposition,  but  even  excommunication,  for  no  reason  but 
their  bearing  testimony  against  that  ensnaring  oatli  of  abju- 
ration, and  a  number  of  other  defections.  Again,  this  church, 
still  fond  of  suppressing  the  good  old  cause  and  owners  there- 
of, framed  and  prosecuted  a  libel,  most  unjustly  (some  even 
of  themselves  being  judges),  against  Mr.  John  McMillan^ 
minister  in  Balraaghie^  for  presenting  in  a  regular  manner,  a 


[92J 

paper  of  real  and  acknowledged  grievances  ;  and,  because  he 
would  not  resile  from  it,  but  continued  to  plead  for  a  redress, 
was  at  last  deposed.  As  also  Air.  John  i[f'A^e^7,  preacher,  for 
the  same  reason,  had  his  license  taken  from  him ;  and,  by 
the  authority  of  the  assembly,  both  of  them  were  prosecuted 
and  censured,  not  for  scandal,  insufficiency  or  negligence, 
error  in  doctrine,  &c.,  but  only  on  account  of  their  pleading 
for  the  covenanted  reformation  of  the  Church  of  &o^/an(/, 
and  maintaining  a  necessary  testimony  against  the  prevailing 
corruptions  and  defections  of  former  and  present  times,  as 
appears  from  their  paper  of  grievances  and  joint  declinature, 
printed  1708.  Nay,  such  was  their  mad  zeal  against  reform- 
ation principles,  that,  by  the  act  15th  of  assem..  1715,  the 
commission  was  not  only  empowered  to  censure  all  the  fore- 
mentioned  persons,  but  also  enjoined  to  apply  to  the  civil 
magistrate  for  suppressing  and  punishing  them  ;  and  accord- 
ingly sundry  of  them  were  proclaimed  rebels  over  public 
market  crosses,  only  for  their  continued  adherence  to  reform- 
ation. And  besides  other  instances,  their  magisterial  and 
lordly  power  exercised  over  the  flock  of  Christ,  in  the  violent 
intrusion  of  ministers  into  vacant  churches  over  the  belly  of 
the  people,  and  then  excommunicating  from  sealing  ordi- 
nances such  as  cannot  in  conscience  submit  to  the  ministry 
of  these  intruders,  is  a  most  glaring  one;  while  at  the  same 
time,  severe  censures  are  inflicted  upon  such  ministers  as 
have  the  honesty  to  oppose  these  anti-christian  measures. 
Loud  complaints  have  likewise  been  made  against  their 
arbitrary  and  tyrannical  conduct,  with  reference  to  Mr. 
Ebenezer  Erskine^  and  others  with  him,  designated  by  the 
name  of  the  Associate  Presbytery^  because  of  their  remonstrat- 
ing against,  and  endeavoring  to  rectify,  some  of  the  foremen- 
tioned  evils  in  the  church  ;  the  justness  of  which  grievances 
and  complaints  may  be  instructed  from  their  own  writings 
on  that  head. 

It  must  not  be  here  omitted  to  remark,  that  as  this  church 
is  justly  charged  with  tyranny  in  government,  so  she  is  equally 
guilty  of  partiality  in  discipline.  Though  all  that  discover 
any  measure  of  faithfulness  in  the  concerns  of  Christ's  glory, 
are  sure  to  meet  with  most  severe  treatment,  yet  the  loose, 
profane  and  erroneous,  have  seldom  any  church  censures  put 
in  execution  against  tliem.  This  church  never  made  any 
suitable  inquiry  into  the  sinful  compliances,  and  sad  defect- 
ions of  her  members  and  office-bearers,  during  the  persecuting 
period:  and  that  unfaithfulness  in  the  exercise  of  church 
discipline  is  still  copied  after.  How  few,  guilty  of  the  most 
gross  scandals,  are  censured,  such  as  notorious  drunkenness, 


[93] 

blasphemy,  cursing,  swearing,  sabbath-breaking,  undeanness, 
especially  among  the  rich,  who  are  capable  to  give  pecuniary 
miulcts  to  free  thorn  from  church  censure?  (Thus,  in  con- 
formity to  the  prelatical  and  anti-christian  example,  setting 
to  sale  the  censures  of  the  church,  and  dispensing  with  the 
laws  of  Christ  for  money.)  ISTay,  not  only  are  such  over- 
looked, but  many  guilty  of  these  gross  sins,  together  with 
oppression,  neglecters  of  family  worship,  and  the  grossly 
ignorant,  are  without  any  public  acknowledgment  of  these 
sins,  admitted  to  the  highest  and  most  solemn  ordinances, 
viz :  both  sacraments.  And  this  may  be  thought  the  less 
strange,  when  persons  chargeable  with  most  of  these  sins, 
are  admitted,  and  continued  to  be  office-bearers  in  the  house 
of  God.  Persons,  and  even  teachers  maintaining  most  dread- 
ful blasphemous  errors  connived  at,  patronized,  or  but  slightly 
censured,  and  still  kept  in  comnmnion,  without  any  open 
renunciation  of  these  heresies.  Play-houses,  the  seminaries 
of  vice  and  impiety,  erected  in  the  principal  cities  of  the 
nation,  and  stage-players,  commonly  among  the  most  aband- 
oned of  mankind,  escape  with  impunity.  Yea,  this  pagan 
entertainment  of  the  stage  is  countenanced  by  the  members 
and  office-bearers  of  this  church,  and  that  to  such  a  degree, 
that  one  of  the  ministers  thereof  has  commenced  author  of  a 
most  profane  play,  called  The  Tragedy  of  Dovglas^  wherein 
immorality  is  promoted,  and  what  is  sacred,  exposed  to  ridi- 
cule. Oh!  how  astonishing  1  that  a  minister  in  the  once 
famous  church  of  Scotland  should  be  guilty  of  such  abomin- 
ations, and  yet  not  immediately  sentenced  to  bear  the  highest 
of  all  church  censure  ! 

5.  The  presbytery  testify  against  this  established  churchy 
for  unfaithfulness  of  doctrine ;  which  will  appear  by  a  few 
instances :  although  before  the  Revolution,  the  Lord  Jesus 
was  openly,  as  far  as  human  laws  could  do,  divested  of  his 
headship  and  sovereignty  in  and  over  his  church  ;  although 
the  divine  right  of  presbytery  had  been  publicly  and  nation- 
ally exploded,  derided  and  denied,  yet  this  church  has  never 
by  any  formal  act,  declared  that  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  is 
sole  king,  the  alone  supreme  head  of  his  church — nor  in  the 
same  manner  declared  that  the  presbyterian  form  of  church 
government  is  of  divine  right,  and  condemned  all  other  forms 
as  contrary  to  the  word.  Such  a  testimony  was  the  more 
necessary,  when  the  civil  powers  have  arrogated  Christ's 
power  to  themselves,  and  continue  to  exercise  it  over  his 
church  ;  and  the  want  of  it  is  an  evidence  of  the  church's 
unsoundness  in  the  doctrine  of  government,  and  of  Christ's 
kingly  office.  This  church's  error  in  doctrine  further  appears 


[94] 

from  their  condemnation  of  a  book  entitled  The  marrow  of 
modern  divinity^  as  containing  gross  antimonian  errors ; 
whereby  they  condemned  many  great  gospel  truths  as  errors, 
particularly,  that  believers  are  altogether  set  free  from  the 
law,  as  a  covenant  of  works,  both  from  its  commanding  and 
condemning  power,  together  with  others  ;  whereby  they  have 
made  way  for,  and  encouraged  that  legal,  moral  way  of  harran- 
guing,  exclusive  of  Christ  and  his  most  perfect  righteousness 
(which  is  so  common  and  frequent  in  all  parts  of  the  land), 
and  opened  a  door  for  introducing  Baxterian  principles,  which, 
in  consequence  hereof,  have  since  very  much  prevailed.  An- 
other evidence  of  this  church's  unsoundness  and  unfaithful- 
ness in  doctrine,  is  their  excessive,  sinful  lenity  toward  the 
most  gross  heretics.  Nothwithstanding  Arminian  and  Pel- 
agian heresies,  and  Arian  blasphemies,  have  been  publicly 
taught;  and  although  true  godliness  and  etfectual  working 
of  the  Spirit  on  the  souls  of  men  have  been  publicly  ex- 
posed as  enthusiasm,  and  many  other  damnable  heresies 
vented,  yet  this  church  has  never  lifted  up  the  faithful 
standard  of  a  judicial  testimony,  in  condemnation  of  these 
heresies,  and  in  vindication  of  the  precious  truths  of  Christ 
thereby  impugned.  And  when  the  ministers  and  members 
of  this  church  have  been  processed  before  her  assemblies,  and 
convicted  of  maintaining  many  gross  errors,  no  adequate 
censure  has  been  inflicted.  This  particularly  appears  in  the 
case  of  Mr.  Simpson,  professor  of  divinity  in  the  college  of 
Glasgow,  when  processed  before  the  judicatories  of  this 
church,  in  the  years  1715  and  1716,  for  several  gross  errors; 
such  as, '' That  regard  to  our  own  happiness,  in  the  enjoy- 
ment of  God,  ought  to  be  our  chief  motive  in  serving  him, 
and  that  our  glory fying  of  God  is  subordinate  to  it:  that 
Adam  was  not  our  federal  head  ;"  and  other  Arminian,  Soci- 
nian  and  Pelagian  heresies,  all  to  be  found  in  his  answers  to 
Mr.  Webster's  libel  given  in  against  him,  and  clearly  proven: 
yet  was  he  dismissed  with  a  very  gentle  admonition.  Which 
sinful  lenity  encouraged  him,  not  only  to  persist  in  the  same 
errors,  but  also  to  the  venting  of  Arian  heresies  among  his 
students. 

Accordingly,  he  was  again  arraigned  before  the  assembly's 
bar  in  the  years  1727-28-29,  when  it  was  found  clearly 
proven  that  he  had  denied  the  necessary  existence  of  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  the  numerical  Oneness  of  the  Three 
Persons  of  the  Trinity  in  substance  and  essence,  with  other 
damnable  tenets.  Yet  when  these  articles,  whereby  he  had 
attem[)ted  to  depose  the  Son  of  God  from  his  supreme  deity, 
were  proven,  and  when  (as  one  of  the  members  of  this  church. 


[95] 

in  his  protest  against  the  assemhly's  sentence,  said)  the  Son 
of  God,  as  it  were,  appearing  at  the  bar  of  that  assembly, 
craving  justice  against  one  who  had  derogated  from  his  es- 
sential glory,  and  blasphemed  his  name,  at  which  every  knee 
should  bow.  Yet  such  was  the  corruption  and  unfaithfulness 
of  this  church,  that  the  blasphemer  was  dismissed  without 
any  adequate  censure  passed  upon  him,  and  still  continued 
in  the  character  of  a  minister  and  member  of  this  church. 

Again,  when  Mr.  Campbell,  professor  of  church  history  at 
St.  Andrews,  was  processed  before  the  judicatories  of  this 
church,  for  maintaining  a  scheme  of  dangerous  and  most 
pernicious  principles,  which  he  published  to  the  world,  hav- 
ing a  manifest  tendency  to  subvert  revealed  religion,  and 
expose  the  exercise  of  serious  godliness  under  the  notion 
of  enthusiasm  :  to  advance  self-love,  as  the  leading  principle 
and  motive  in  all  human  actions  whatever,  and  to  destroy 
the  self-sufficiency  of  God,  making  him  a  debtor  to  his  crea- 
tures :  yet  though  these,  with  a  number  of  God-dishonoring, 
creature-exalting,  and  soul-ruining  errors,  were  notorious 
from  his  books,  and  were  defended  by  him  ;  the  heretic,  in- 
stead of  being  duly  censured,  was  countenanced  and  carressed : 
whereby  this  church  has  given  a  most  deep  wound  to  some 
of  the  most  important  truths  of  the  christian  religion,  and 
becomes  chargeable  with  the  guilt  of  all  the  errors  maintained 
by  that  erroneous  professor. 

A  third  instance  of  this  church's  unfaithfulness,  appears 
in  the  case  of  Mr.  Glas,  and  others,  who  openly  vented,  by 
preaching  and  printing,  independent  schemes  of  church  gov- 
ernment, with  some  new  improvements  ;  attacked  our  Con- 
fession of  faith  and  Covenants,  unhinging  all  order  and  gov- 
ernment in  the  church,  pulled  up  the  hedge  of  discipline,  to 
introduce  all  errors  in  doctrine,  and  corruption  in  worship ; 
and,  at  last,  openly  renounced  presbytery,  name  and  thing 
(denying  that  there  is  any  warrant  for  national  churches 
under  the  New  Testament),  and  asserted,  that  our  martyrs, 
who  suffered  for  adhering  to  the  covenanted  reformation, 
were  so  far  in  a  delusion,  with  many  other  sectarian  tenets : 
for  which,  the  church  at  first  suspended,  and  then  deposed 
some  of  them.  But  afterward,  as  if  this  church  repented  of 
doing  so  much  in  favor  of  presbytery,  they  were  reponed,  to 
the  great  danger  of  the  church  :  for  having  discovered  no 
remorse  for  their  errors,  they  immediately  employed  all  their 
parts  to  shake  presbytery,  by  setting  up  independent  churches 
and  ordaining  several  mechanics  to  be  their  ministers  ;  and 
nothing  done  by  the  church  for  putting  a  stop  to  these  errors, 
and  for  reviving  and  vindicating  the  precious  truths  they 
had  impugned. 


[96] 

Likewise,  when  Mr.  Wishart  was  staged  for  error  vented 
by  him  in  some  of  his  sermons,  with  respect  to  the  influence 
of  arguments  taken  from  the  awe  of  future  rewards  and 
punishments,  and  other  erroneous  notions;  he  was  dismissed 
without  any  renuncation  of  his  heterodox  principles,  and 
assoilzied  by  the  judicatories  of  this  church:  and,  as  easy 
absolutions  encourage  error,  so  no  sooner  was  he  assoilzied, 
but  he  had  the  assurance  to  recommend  erroneous  books, 
such  as  Doctor  Whitchcot's  sermons,  to  his  students.  It  is 
indeed  no  small  evidence  of  the  unsoundness  of  this  church, 
when  the  heads  of  colleges  are  sulfered,  imjnme,  to  recom- 
mend such  books  for  students  and  probationers  to  form  upon. 

Again,  when  professor  Leechman  was  quarreled  with  for 
his  deistical  sermon  on  prayer,  by  the  presbytery  of  Glasgow^ 
and  afterward  carried  before  the  assembly  ;  yet  although  in 
all  his  sermons,  he  presents  God  as  the  object  of  prayer, 
merely  as  our  Creator,  without  any  relation  to  Christ,  as 
Mediator;  but  recommends  to  his  hearers,  as  the  only 
acceptable  disposition  of  mind,  an  assured  confidence  In  the 
goodness  and  mercy  of  their  Creator:  not  only  has  that 
Christless  sermon  been  very  much  extolled,  but  the  author 
dismissed  from  the  assembly's  bar  in  such  a  manner,  as  if 
thereby  he  had  merited  their  applause.  From  all  which  it 
sufficiently  appears,  that  this  church  is  unsound  and  unfaith- 
ful in  point  of  doctrine  ;  especially,  if  it  is  considered,  that 
she  has  been  frequently  addressed  by  representations,  declar- 
ing the  necessity  of  an  assertory  act,  affirming  and  ascer- 
taining the  precious  truths  injured  and  impuned,  and  that 
publicly,  by  the  above  mentioned  errors ;  and  that  a  solemn 
warning  should  be  emitted,  discovering  the  evil  and  danger 
of  them :  yet  that  necessary  duty  has  still  been  contemned 
and  disregarded. 

The  great  truths  of  God,  have,  for  many  years,  lain 
wounded  and  bleeding  in  our  streets,  trampled  upon  by  their 
oj)en  and  daring  enemies  ;  while  this  church  has  entirely  for- 
gotten and  slighted  the  divine  command,  to  contend  earn- 
estly for  the  faith  once  delivered  to  the  saints.  And  though 
the  Westminster  Confession  of  Faith  continues  to  be  sub- 
scribed by  intrants  into  the  ministry  (the  covenants  owned 
by  the  Reformed  Church  of  Scotland^  as  a  part  of  her  con- 
fession, being  abstracted  from  the  confession  of  this  present 
church),  yet  how  little  of  that  system  and  order  of  doctrine 
is  now  taught  ?  the  general. ty  having  just  as  much  of  Christ, 
and  the  doctrines  of  his  cross,  in  most  of  their  discourses,  as 
is  to  be  found  in  the  writings  of  Flato^  Epictetus  and  Seneca^ 
and  the  rest  of  the  Pas-an  moialists.     So  that  this  church 


[97] 

appears  orthodox,  in  little  (or  no)  other  sense  than  the  church 
of  England  is  so,  viz:  by  subscribing  the  thirty-nine  articles, 
which  are  Calvinistlcrd  in  the  doctrinal  parts ;  while  yet  the 
Arminian  system  of  doctrine  is  generally  received  and  taught 
by  her  clergy.  Add  to  what  is  above,  that  this  church 
maintains  no  suitable  testimony  against  sins  of  all  sorts,  in 
persons  of  all  stations ;  neither  emits  faithful  warnings 
anent  the  snares  and  dangers  of  the  nation,  nor  full  and  free 
declarations  of  present  duty,  as  church  judicatories,  like 
faithful  watchmen  did  in  former  times.  But  such  faithful- 
ness in  God's  matters  is  not  now,  alas !  to  be  expected ;  see 
ing  this  church  has  made  a  formal  concert,  or  mutual  pact- 
ion, binding  up  one  another  from  preaching  against,  and 
applying  their  doctrines  to  the  sins,  corruptions  and  scandals 
of  the  times:  see  acts  of  assem.  16th,  17th,  anno  1712;  act 
6th,  1713;  act  8th,  1714;  act  6th,  1715.  The  presbytery 
cannot  also  here  omit  observing,  and  that  with  deep  regret, 
that  although  the  most  damnable  principles,  which  have  a 
direct  tendency  to  deny  the  being  of  God,  and  so  to  propa- 
gate opinionative  atheism,  to  subvert  all  religion,  to  extol 
the  power  of  corrupt  nature,  and  exalt  popery,  as  the  best 
form  of  religion,  to  deny  the  subjection  of  the  world  to  the 
providence  of  God,  to  destroy  all  distinction  between  virtue 
and  vice,  and  consequently  affirm,  that  there  is  no  moral 
evil  in  the  world,  and  to  ridicule  Christianity,  as  destitute  of 
divine  authority,  have  been  lately  vented  by  David  Hume, 
Esq.;  and  another  designated  by  the  name  of  Sopho :  yet 
this  church  has  passed  no  suitable  censure  upon  the  authors 
of  these  impious  and  blasphemous  principles,  though  they 
justly  deserve  the  very  highest:  nor  have  they  done  any- 
thing to  testify  their  dislike,  or  put  an  eftectual  stop  to  the 
spreading  of  these  abominable  tenets.  The  presbytery  there- 
fore, as  they  declare  their  abhorrence  of  these,  and  the  other 
errors  formerly  mentioned,  so  testify  against  the  church's 
notorious  unfaithfulness,  in  suffering  these  wretches  to  pass 
with  impunity  ;  and  as  being,  on  all  these  accounts  noticed, 
unsound  and  corrupt,  in  the  matter  of  doctrine,  &c.  It  may 
also  be  here  remarked,  as  an  undoubted  evidence  of  the  cor- 
ruptness of  the  state,  that,  although  there  are  civil  laws 
presently  in  being,  which  declare  the  maintaining  of  anti- 
trinitarian,  atheistical  principles,  to  be  not  only  criminal, 
but  capital ;  yet  the  civil  powers  in  the  nation  have  not  so 
much  regard  to  God,  and  the  Son  of  God,  as  to  punish 
treason  openly  acted  against  them. 

6.  The  presbytery  testify  against  both  church  and  state, 
for  their  sinful  associations  with  malignants :  as  declared 


[98] 

enemies  to  the  covenanted  interest  have  engrossed  the  civil 
power  wholly  to  their  hands,  since  the  puhlic  resolutions, 
that  a  door  was  opened  for  their  admission  ;  so  such  is  the 
nature  of  the  laws  presently  extant  and  in  force,  that  one 
cannot  be  admitted  to  any  office,  civil  or  military,  but  by 
swearing  away  all  friendship  to  a  covenanted  reformation. 
And,  moreover,  all  along  since  the  late  Revolution,  the  na- 
tions have  been  the  most  earnest  pursuing  after  friendship 
with  the  grossest  idolators ;  and,  in  express  contradiction  to 
the  word  of  God,  have  confederated  in  the  closest  alliance 
with  God's  declared  enemies  abroad ;  nay,  have  exhausted 
their  strength  and  substance,  in  mainta  ning  the  quarrel  of 
such  as  have  been  remarkable  for  their  hatred  at,  and  perse- 
cution of  the  protestant  interest.  The  Eevolution  Church 
has  also  said  a  confederacy  with  such  as  have,  on  all  occa- 
sions, shewed  a  rooted  enmity  and  hatred  at  reformation 
principles:  which  appears  from  their  admitting  such  (noticed 
above)  to  be  office-bearers  in  the  church  :  from  ther observ- 
ing fasts,  and  praying  for  success  to  the  allied  armies,  though 
almost  wholly  composed  of  such,  and  many  of  tlieni  often- 
times gross  popish  idolators:  from  their  going  in  with,  and 
approving  of  the  sinful  incorporating  union  with  England : 
from  their  acknowledging  the  civil  power  of  church  men  as 
lawful:  from  their  joining  in  rel  gious  communion  with  Mr. 
Whiiefield;  and  in  many  other  instances. 

Kot  to  insist  further  in  enumerating  particulars,  the  pres- 
bytery finally  testify  against  church  and  state,  for  their  neg- 
ligence to  suppress  im].)iety,  vice,  and  superstitious  observ- 
ance of  holy  days,  &c.  The  civil  powers  herein  acting 
directly  contrary  to  the  nature  and  perverting  the  very  ends 
of  the  magistrate's  office,  which  is  to  be  custos  et  vindex  utri- 
usque  tabuloe;  the  minister  of  God,  a  revenger,  to  execute 
wrath  on  him  that  doeth  evil.  Transgressors  of  the  first 
table  of  the  law  may  now  s!n  openly  with  impunit}^ ;  and, 
while  the  religious  observation  of  the  sabbath  is  not  regarded, 
the  superstitious  observation  of  holy  days,  even  in  ^Scotland, 
is  so  much  authorized,  that  on  some  of  them  the  most  con- 
siderable courts  of  justice  are  discharged  to  sit.  Stage-plays, 
masquerades,  halls,  assemblies,  and  promiscuous  dancings, 
the  very  nur^Oiies  of  impiety  and  wickedness,  are  not  only 
tolerated,  but  even  countenanced  by  law.  And  as 'these, 
with  other  evils,  are  permitted  by  the  civil  powers;  so  this 
church  seems  to  have  lost  all  zeal  against  sin.  Xo  suitable 
endeavors  are  used  to  prevent  the  growth  of  atheism,  idola- 
try and  superstition:  and  though  prelacy,  as  well  as  popery, 
is  growing  apace  in  the  lands,  and  organs  publicly  used  in 


[99J 

that  superstitious  worship  ;  yet  no  testimony  is  given  against 
them,  but  new  modes  introduced  into  the  worship  of  God, 
for  carnal  ends,  as  a  gradual  advance  toward  that  supersti- 
tion. Yea,  so  unconcerned  about  suppressing  vice  and  ex- 
travagent  vanity,  &c.,  that  not  only  are  the  forementioned 
nurseries  of  sin  frequented  by  ministers'  children,  but  min- 
isters themselves  have  countenanced  them  by  their  presence, 
to  the  great  scandal  of  their  office,  and  manifest  encourage- 
ment of  these  seminaries  of  immorality.  And  notwithstand- 
ing that  by  the  late  proclamation,  the  penal  laws  against 
vice  and  profanity  seem  to  be  revived  (wliich  is  in  itself  so 
far  good),  yet  this  cannot  supersede  or  remove  the  ground  of 
the  presbytery's  testimony  against  church  and  state  com- 
plexly, on  the  above  account,  or  even  against  the  thing 
itself,  in  the  manner  that  it  is  gone  about.  For  besides  that, 
notwithstanding  of  all  former  endeavors  of  this  kind,  since 
the  overthrow  of  our  scriptural  and  covenanted  reformation, 
immoral  ty  and  wickedness  have  still  increased  and  over- 
flowed all  these  banks  ;  partly,  because,  after  all  their  pre- 
tenses, the  laws  were  not  vigorously  put  in  execution  (and  as 
good,  no  law  nor  penalty,  as  no  execution),  and  partly,  be- 
cause these  law-makers,  being  also  themselves  the  law-break- 
ers, have  entrusted  the  execution  to  such  as  are  generally 
ringleaders  in  a  variety  of  gross  immoralities  ;  it  is  not  likely, 
that  ever  God  w^ill  countenance  and  bless  such  attempts, 
whereby  (contrary  to  scripture  and  all  good  order)  the  eccle- 
siastical power  is  subjected  to  the  civd,  and  ministers  made 
the  bare  inspectors  of  men's  manners,  and  informers  to  in- 
ferior judges,  without  having  it  in  the  r  power  to  oblige 
such  transgressors  (if  obstinate)  to  compear  before  church 
judicatories,  and  conform  and  submit  to  the  laws  of  Christ's 
house,  x^ay,  so  far  will  God  be  from  approving  such  Erast- 
ian  methods  of  reformation,  that  he  will  certainly  visit  for 
this,  among  all  other  iniquities,  and  in  his  own  due  time 
make  a  breach  upon  us,  because  we  sought  him  not  in  the 
due  order.  Wherefore,  and  for  all  these  grounds,  the  pres- 
bytery testify  against  both  church  and  state,  as  in  their  con- 
stitutions Erastian  and  anti-scriptural,  including  the  substi- 
tution and  acknowledgment  of  another  head  and  governor 
over  the  church  than  Christ,  as  may  be  sufficiently  evident 
from  proofs  above  adduced.  And  particularly,  because  the 
British  united  constitution  is  such  as  involves  the  whole 
land,  and  all  ranks  therein,  in  the  dreadful  guilt  of  idolatry, 
communicating  with  idolators,  apostasy,  perjury,  &q.^  They 
declare  they  can  have  no  communion  therewith  ;  but  that  is 

*  Fee  pages  86,  87,  preceding. 


[100] 

such  an  association  as  that  God's  call  to  his  people,  concern- 
ing it,  is,  "Come  out  from  among  them.  Be  ye  separate, 
and  touch  not  the  unclean  thing,  and  I  wjU  receive  you,  saith 
the  Lord." 


SUPPLEMENT  TO  PAET  SECOND. 

For  as  much  as  a  good  number  of  people  in  the  north  of 
Ireland  have  acceded,  and  submitted  themselves  to  the  pres- 
bytery, and  one  of  their  number  is  fixed  among  them  as 
their  proper  pastor ;  the  presbytery  intended  to  liave  sub- 
joined something  by  vv^ay  of  appendix  to  the  above  Testi- 
mony, with  relation  to  the  state  of  religion  in  that  kingdom, 
especially  with  regard  to  the  settlement  of  the  Presbyterian 
religion  there.  But  as  diocesan  Episcopacy  is  the  religion 
there  estabhshed  by  law,  against  which  the  presbytery  has 
declared  and  testified  (as  above)  as  an  anti-scriptural,  anti- 
covenanted,  and  merely  a  human  and  political  settlement 
(whether  considered  abstractly  or  complexly  with  that  in  the 
kingdom  of  Scotland),  there  needs  nothing  be  further  said 
anent  it.  And  as  those  called  Presbyterians  in  Ireland,  are 
equally  enemies  to  the  true  covenanted  Presbyterian  cause 
with  those  of  the  Revolution  Church  of  Scotland;  so  the 
above  testimony  equally  strikes  against  them  with  the  other. 
There  seems,  however,  to  be  this  considerable  difference  be- 
twixt the  Presbyterians  in  Scotland  and  Ireland,  viz:  That 
although  the  settlement  is  the  same  as  to  the  matter  of  it, 
yet  so  it  is  not  as  to  the  form  or  manner  of  it,  the  Presbyte- 
rians in  Ireland  neither  having,  nor  claiming,  any  other 
security  or  foundation  for  their  difi:erent  mode  of  religious 
worship  than  the  royal  indulgence,  or  toleration  act.  And 
therefore,  as  the  presbytery  did  and  do  testify  against  tolera- 
tion, and  toleration  principles,  disclaiming  such  an  anti- 
scriptural  shelter  ;  they  therein,  of  consequence,  bear  witness 
and  testimony  against  all  such  as  do  in  these  lands  (where 
God  has  given  his  people  a  claim  of  another  kind)  profess- 
edly dwell  under  such  a  shadow.  But  besides,  the  presby- 
tery view  them  (complexly  considered)  as  unworthy  of  their 
regard  or  notice  in  these  papers,  as  to  engaging  in  any  par- 
ticular or  explicit  testimony  against  them,  in  as  much  as 
they  have  denuded  themselves  of  almost  any  pretense  to  the 
Presbyterian  name,  by  not  only  disclaiming  and  opposing 
the  true  Presbyterian  cause,  but  having  also  fallen  from  the 
belief  and  profession  of  the  most  important  and  fundamental 
truths   of  Christianity;   thereby   plainly  discovering  them- 


[101 J 

selves  to  be  creatures  of  quite  another  species  and  spirit, 
than  the  ministers  of  Jesus  Clirist,  and  friends  to  the  blessed 
s[)iritaal  Bridegroom ;  deserving  rather  to  be  termed  a  syna- 
gogue of  Libertines^  a  club  of  Socinians,  Arians^  Pelagians^ 
&c.,  banded  together  against  Christ,  and  the  doctrines  of  his 
cross,  than  a  synod  of  the  ministers  of  the  gospel.  There- 
fore, as  the  presbytery  testify  and  remonstrate  against  them, 
their  toleration,  or  indulgence  footing,  on  which  they  profess- 
edly stand,  together  with  their  poisonous  jumble  and  med- 
ley of  errors,  commonly  called  Newlight,  adopted,  and  with 
the  greatest  warmth  and  diligence,  spread  and  propagated  by 
most  of  them,  and  connived  at  and  tolerated  by  the  rest,  and 
all  their  books  or  prints  written  by  them,  or  others  of  the 
like  spirit  with  them,  in  defense  of  these  dangerous  and 
damnable  tenets;  so  they  do  hereby  judicially  warn  and  ex- 
hort all  the  people  under  their  inspection  there,  to  beware  of 
such  men,  and  such  books,  however  they  maj'  varnish  over 
the  doctrines  they  bring,  with  fine  w^ords,  fair  speeches  and 
pretenses,  in  order  to  deceive  the  hearts  of  the  simple ;  and 
this,  as  they  would  not  incur  the  dis[)leasure  of  a  holy  and 
jealous  God,  and  have  their  souls  de tiled  and  destroyed  by 
these  errors.  On  the  contrary,  to  endeavor  to  have  their 
minds  and  understandings  enlightened  with  the  knowledge 
of  the  truths  of  Christ,  and  mysteries  of  his  gospel,  and 
their  hearts  warmed  with  the  love  of  them ;  so  that  being 
through  grace  established  in  the  belief  of  the  truth,  they 
may  not  ''  be  as  children  tossed  to  and  fro,  and  carried  about 
with  every  wind  of  doctrine,  by  the  sleight  of  men,  and 
cunning  craftiness,  whereby  they  lie  in  w^ait  to  deceive  ;" 
JEph.  iv,  14,  15.  "  But  speaking  the  truth  in  love,  may  grow 
up  in  all  things  unto  him,  which  is  the  Head,  even  Christ ;" 
and  striving  to  refrain  and  keep  themselves  from  every 
wicked,  offensive  and  backsliding  course,  and  to  live  soberly, 
righteously  and  godly,  blameless  and  harmless  as  the  sons 
of  God,  without  rebuke,  adorning  the  gospel  of  Christ  with 
a  conversation  becoming  the  same ;  so  shall  they  thereby 
glorify  God,  and  transmit  a  faithful  testimony  for  the  des- 
pised truths  of  Christ  to  posterity,  that  so  there  may  be  a 
seed  to  do  service  unto  him  in  these  lands,  and  make  his 
name  to  be  remembered  through  all  generations. 


PART  III. 

The  principles  of  some  piirtics,  who  have  made  the  most  specious  appear- 
ances for  the  Reformation,  considered. — Particular  j^rounds  of  testimony 
a.Liaiiist  that  body  of  ministers  and  people  known  by  the  name  of  the  Se- 
cession, wheieiu  their  partiality  a!id  unfaitlifulnes^  in  their  profession  of 
the  covenanted  testimony  of  the  CJiiirch  of  Scotland  is  disccn^ered  in 
various  instances, — their  loose  and  immoral  doctrine  about  civil  society 
and  jrovernment — their  corruption  in  worship,  sinful  terms  of  commun- 
ion, &c.,  6cc. 

The  presbytery  leaving  in  the  preceding  pages  exhibited 
their  testimony  against  both  charcli  and  state,  as  now  estab- 
lished in  these  isles  of  the  sea,  and  therein  discovered  the 
reasons,  why  they  are  obliged  to  disapprove  of  both,  proceed, 
next,  to  take  notice  of  some  of  the  parties  that  have  made 
the  most  specious  appearances  for  reformation  in  this  land 
since  the  Revolution,  of  which  that  party  commonly  known 
by  the  name  of  Seccssio7i,  are  not  the  least  remarkable.  It  is 
vast  pity,  and  it  is  with  grief  and  jamentation,  that  the 
presbytery  find  themselves,  in  point  of  duty,  obliged  to  lift 
up  a  testimony  against  the  forementioned  party  ;  consider- 
ing, that  they  have  made  a  professed  appearance  under  a 
judicial  banner  displayed  for  truth,  and  a  covenanted  Avork 
of  reformation,  and  have,  in  reality,  showed  much  zeal  in 
opposing  a  variety  of  errors  in  doctrine,  corruption  in  disci- 
pline and  government,  most  prevalent  in  the  National  Church 
of  Scotland;  have  contributed  to  vindicate  some  of  the  most 
important  truths  and  doctrines  of  the  Christian  faith,  that 
have  been  openly  impugned  in  this  day  of  blasphemy,  and 
may  have  been  instrumental  in  turning  nvAuy  to  righteous- 
ness, and  reviving  the  exercise  of  practical  godliness  among 
not  a  few.  But  as  Faul  withstood  Feter  to  the  face,  and 
testified  against  his  dissimulation,  though  both  of  tliem 
ap;)Stles  of  our  common  Lord  and  Savior;  so  it  still  remains 
duty  to  testify  against  the  most  godly,  and  such  as  may  have 
been  very  useful  to  the  church  in  many  res})ects,  in  so  far  as 
they  have  not  showed  themselves  earnest  contenders  for  the 
faith  once  delivered  to  the  saints,  but  have  dealt  treacherously 
with  God  in  the  concerns  of  his  glory.  It  is  therefore  with 
just  regret  they  proceed  to  observe,  that  they  are  obliged  to 
testify  "against  this  party  designated,  first,  by  the  title  of 
llie  Associate  Fresbjjferf/ {i\nd  then  that  of  I'he  Associate  Synod) 
— and  that  particularly,  for  their  error  in  doctrine,  treachery 


[103] 

in  covenant,  partiality  and  tj-rann}^  in  discipline  and  govern- 
ment. It  may  at  tirst  seem  strange,  to  see  a  charge  of  error 
advanced  against  those  who  made  the  countenancing  of  error 
in  the  judicatories  of  the  established  church,  one  principal 
ground  of  their  secession  therefrom.  But  by  taking  a  nar- 
rower view  ot  the  principles  and  doctrines  which  they  have 
roundly  and  plainly  asserted,  and  endeavored  to  justify  in 
their  printed  pamphlets  anent  civil  government,  the  reception 
and  belief  of  which  they  zealously  inculcate  upon  their  fol- 
lowers, it  will  appear,  that  their  scheme  is  so  far  from  tend- 
ing to  promote  the  declarative  glory  of  God,  and  the  real 
good  of  human  and  religious  society,  or /the  church  of  God, 
which  are  the  very  ends  of  the  divine  ordinance  of  magistrac}^, 
that  it  is  not  only  unscriptural,  but  anti-scriptural,  contrary 
to  the  common  sentiments  of  mankind,  and  introductive  of 
anarchy  and  confusion  in  every  nation,  should  it  be  thoroughly 
adopted,  and^therefore  ought  to  betestilied  against.  The  sum 
of  their  principles  anent  civil  magistracy,  may  be  collected 
from  these  few  passages,  to  be  found  in  a  print  entitled, 
Ansivers  by  the  Associate  Presbytery  to  reasons  of  dissent,  ^c. — 
Page  70.  "This  divine  law,  not  only  endows  men  in  their 
present  state  with  a  natural  inclination  to  civil  society  and 
government,  but  it  presents  unto  them  an  indispensable  ne- 
cessity of  erecting  the  same  into  some  form,  as  a  moral  duty, 
the  obligation  and  benefit  whereof  no  wickedness  in  them 
can  lose  or  forfeit — Page  74.  AVhatever  magistrates  any 
civil  state  acknowledged,  were  to  be  subjected  to  through- 
out the  same — Page  50.  Such  a  measure  of  these  qualifica- 
tions {viz:  scriptural)  and  duties  cannot  be  required  for  the 
beino;  of  the  lawful  mao'istrate's  office,  either  as  essential  to 
it,  or  a  condition  of  it  sine  qua  non,  or,  without  which  one 
is  not  really  a  magistrate,  however  far  sustained  as  such  by 
civil  society  ;  for  then  no  person  could  be  a  magistrate,  un- 
less he  were  so  faultlessly.  The  due  measure  and  performance 
of  scriptural  qualifications  and  duties  belong  not  to  the 
being  and  validity  of  the  magistrate's  office,  but  to  the  well- 
being  and  usefulness  thereof — P.  87.  The  precepts,  already 
explained,  are  a  rule  of  duty  toward  any  who  are,  and 
while  they  are  acknowledged  as  magistrates  by  the  civil 
society.  Nothing  needs  be  added  for  the  clearing  of  this, 
but  the  overthrow  of  a  distinction  that  has  been  made  of 
those  that  are  acknowledged  as  magistrates  by  the  civil 
society,  into  such  as  are  so  by  the  percept  ve  will  of  God, 
and  such  as  are  so  by  his  providential  will  only :  which 
distinction  is  altogether  grouuilless  and  absurd.  All  provi- 
dential magistrates  are  also  preceptive,  and  that  equally  in 


[104] 

the  above  respect  {viz :  as  to  the  origin  of  their  office)  the 
office  and  authority. of  them  all,  in  itself  considered,  does 
equally  arise  from,  and  ao;ree  unto  the  ]»recei)tive  will  of 
God. — F.  88.  The  precepts  already  explained  (Prov.  xxiv, 
21 ;  Ecd.  X,  4;  Luke  xx,  25  ;  Rom.  xiii,  1-8  ;  Tit.  iii,  1 ;  1 
Pet.  ii,  13-18),  are  a  rule  of  duty  equally  toward  any  who 
are,  and  while  they  are  acknowledged  as  magistrates  by  the 
civil  society  ;  they  are,  and  continue  to  be  a  rule  of  duty  in 
this  matter,  particularly,  to  all  the  Lord's  people,  in  all 
periods,  places,  and  cases."  These  few  passages,  containing 
the  substance  of  Seceders'  principles  on  the  head  of  civil 
government,  may  be  reduced  to  the  following  particulars : 

1.  They  maintain  the  people  to  be  the  ultimate  fountain  of 
magistracy,  and  that  as  they  have  a  right  to  choose  whom- 
soever they  please  to  the  exercise  of  civil  government  over 
them  ;  so  their  inclinations,  w^hether  good  or  bad,  constitute 
a  lawful  magistrate,  without  regard  had  to  the  divine  law. 

2.  That  the  law  of  God  in  the  scriptures  of  truth,  has  na 
concern  with  the  institution  of  civil  government,  but  only 
adds  its  precept  in  forcing  obedience  upon  the  conscience  of 
every  individual,  under  the  pain  of  eternal  damnation,  to 
whomsoever  the  body  politic  shall  invest  with  the  civil  dig- 
nity; and  that,  without  any  regard  to  the  qualifications  of 
person  or  office.  3.  Whomsoever  the  p7nwores  regni^  or  re- 
presentatives of  a  nation,  do  set  up,  are  lawful  magistrates,, 
and  that  not  only  according  to  the  providential,  but  accord- 
ing to  the  precej)tive  will  of  God  also,  in  regard  that  God, 
the  supreme  governor,  has  prescribed  no  qualifications  in  his 
word,  as  essential  to  the  being  of  a  lawful  magistrate,  nor 
told  what  sort  of  men  they  must  be,  that  are  invested  with 
that  office  over  his  professing  people,  thougli  it  is  confessed 
there  are  many  that  are  necessary  to  the  well-being  and  use- 
fulness of  that  office :  and  tlierefore,  4.  That  no  act,  or  even 
habitual  series  of  the  greatest  wickedness  and  mal-adminis- 
tration  can  forfeit  the  person's  right  to  the  people's  subjection, 
for  conscience  sake,  considered  as  individuals,  wliile  the  ma- 
jority of  a  nation  continue  to  recognize  and  own  his  author- 
ity. The  absurdity  of  this  scheme  of  principles  may  obviously 
appear  at  first  view  to  every  unbiassed  mind  that  is  blessed 
with  any  competent  measure  of  common  sense  and  discretion^ 
and  tolerable  knowledge  of  divine  revelation.  That  magis- 
tracy is  a  divine  ordinance,  flowing  originally  from  Jehovah^ 
the  supreme  and  universal  Sovereign  of  Heaven  and  earthy 
as  the  ultimate  fountain  thereof,  cannot  be  denied.  Neither 
is  it  to  be  doubted,  but  that  the  l^ord  has  lodged  a  power 
and  right  in  the  people,  of  choosing  and  setting  up  those 


[105  J 

persons  that  shall  exercise  civil  government  over  them,  and 
to  whom  they  will  submit  themselves.  But  then,  while  God 
has  lodged  this  power  in  the  people,  of  conveying  the  right 
of  civil  authority  to  their  magistrates,  he  has  at  the  same 
time  given  them  positive  and  unalterable  laws,  according  to 
which  they  are  to  proceed,  in  setting  up  their  magistrates ; 
and,  by  the  sovereign  authority  of  the  Great  Lawgiver,  are 
they  expressly  bound  to  act  in  agreeableness  to  these  rules, 
without  any  variation,  and  that,  under  the  pain  of  rebellion 
against  him,  who  is  King  of  kings,  and  Lord  of  lords.  The 
j)resbytery,  therefore,  testisfy  against  this  scheme  of  Seceding- 
principles,  calculated,  in  order  to  inculcate  a  stupid  subjection 
and  obedience  to  every  possessor  of  regal  dignity,  at  the  ex- 
pense of  trampling  upon  all  the  laws  of  God,  respecting  the 
institution,  constitution,  and  administration  of  the  divine 
ordinance  of  magistracy.     Particularly,  this  opinion  is, 

1.  Contrary  to  the  very  nature  of  magistracy,  as  described 
in  the  scriptures  of  truth,  where  we  are  taught,  that  all  au- 
thority to  be  acknowledged  of  men,  must  be  of  God,  and 
ordained  of  God.  The  divine  ordination  of  magistracy  is 
the  alone  formal  reason  of  subjection  thereto,  and  that  which 
makes  it  a  damnable  sin  to  resist.  So  the  apostle  teacheth, 
Rom.  xiii,  1,  &c  :  "  There  is  no  power  but  of  God  ;  the  powera 
that  be,  are  ordained  of  God."  Not  only  is  it  the  current  senti- 
ment of  orthodox  divines  upon  the  place,  but  the  text  and 
context  make  it  undeniably  evident,  that  by  power  here,  is- 
understood,  not  a  natural,  but  a  moral  power,  consisting  not 
only  iii  an  ability,  but  in  a  right  to  command.  Which 
power  is  said  to  be  ordained  of  God,  as  importing,  not  merely 
the  proceeding  of  the  thing  from  God  providentially,  but  such 
a  being  from  God,  as  carries  in  it  his  instituting  or  appointing 
thereof,  by  the  warrant  of  his  word,  law,  or  precept.  So  that 
that  power  which  is  to  be  owned  as  of  God,  includes  these 
two  particulars,  without  which,  no  authority  can  be  acknow- 
ledged as  God's  ordinance,  viz  :  institution  and  constitution, 
so  as  to  possess  him,  who  is  God's  minister,  with  a  moral 
power.  In  the  divine  institution  of  magistracy  is  contained, 
not  only  the  appointment  of  it,  but  the  defining  the  office  in 
'its  qualifications  and  form,  in  a  moral  sense,  prescribing  what 
shall  be  the  end,  and  what  the  measure  of  its  authority,  and 
how  the  supreme  power  shall  rule  and  be  obeyed.  Again, 
the  constitution  of  the  power,  or  the  determination  of  the 
form,  or  investiture  of  the  particular  person  with  the  gov- 
ernment, is  of  God  :  hence  our  Savior,  John  x,  35,  in  his  ap- 
plication of  these  words  in  the  Fsalms,  '*!  said,  ye  are  gods," 
to  magistrates,  shows  how  they  were  gods,  "  because  unto 


[106] 

them  the  word  of  God  came ;"  that  is,  by  his  word  and  war- 
rant he  authorized  them  ;  his  constitution  is  ]:)assed  upon 
them,  wlio  arc  advanced  hy  men,  according  to  his  law  in  his 
word.  AVhcn  therefore  a  nation  acts  according  to  divine 
rule,  in  the  molding  of  government,  and  advancing  of  persons 
to  the  exercise  of  it ;  there  the  government  and  governors 
may  be  said  to  be  ordained  of  God.  But  that  government 
that  is  not  consonant  to  the  divine  institution,  and  those 
governors,  that  are  not  advanced  to  the  ])]ace  of  supreme  rule, 
in  a  Chi'istian  land,  by  the  people,  regulating  themselves  by 
the  divine  law,  cannot  be  said  to  be  the  powers  ordained  of 
God.  It  is  not  merely  the  conveying  the  im])erial  dignity 
by  men  unto  any  particular  person,  that  constitutes  the  power 
to  be  of  God  ;  but  because,  and  in  so  far  as  this  is  done  by 
virtue  of  a  warrant  from  God,  and  in  agreeableness  to  his  law 
that  the  action  has  the  authority  of  God  upon  it. 

Hence,  if  in  this  matter,  there  is  a  substantial  difference 
from,  or  contrariety  to  the  divine  rule,  then  there  is  nothing 
but  a  contradiction  to  God's  ordinance :  this  must  needs  be 
granted,  unless  it  is  maintained  that  God  has  wholly  left 
the  determination  of  this  ordinance  to  men,  absolutely  and 
unlimitedly,  giving  them  an  unbounded  liberty  to  act  there- 
in, according  to  their  own  pleasure,  which  is  most  absurd. 
From  the  whole,  it  follows,  that  more  is  requisite  than  the 
inclinations  of  any  people,  to  constitute  a  lawful  magistrate, 
such  as  can  be  acknowledged  God's  ordinance.  That  power 
which  in  its  institution  and  constitution  is  of  God,  by  his 
law,  can  alone  challenge  subjection,  not  only  for  wrath,  but 
for  conscience  sake. 

2.  The  presbytery  testify  against  this  scheme  of  principles, 
as  being  antiscriptural,  and  what,  in  its  tendency,  is  destruc- 
tive to  the  authority  of  the  sacred  oracles.  Secedcrs  main- 
tain, that  the  people,  without  regard  to  scri[)tural  qualifica- 
tions, have  an  essential  right  to  choose  whom  they  please  to 
the  exercise  of  civil  government,  and  that  whomsoever  they 
choose  are  lawful  magistrates  ;  and  thus  make  the  great  ordi- 
nance of  magistracy  dependent  on  the  uncertain  and  corrupt 
will  of  man.  But  that  this  annarchial  system  is  not  of  di- 
vine authority,  but  owes  its  origin  to  their  own  invention, 
ai)pears  from  the  following  texts  of  holy  writ, besides  others, 
Exod.  xviii.  21 :  "  Moreover,  thou  shalt  provide  out  of  all  the 
people,  able  men,  such  as  fear  God,  men  of  truth,  hating 
covetousness  ;  and  place  such  over  them  to  be  rulers."  This 
counsel  of  Jethro,  was  God's  counsel  and  command  to  Moses, 
in  the  choice  of  magistrates,  supreme  and  subordinate;  and 
discovers,  that  people  are  not  left  to  their  own  will  in  this 


[107] 

inattej\  It  is  God's  direction,  that  the  person  advanced  to 
rule,  must  be  a  man  in  whom  is  the  spirit ;  Numb,  xxvii,  18  ; 
which  Deiit.  xxxiv,  9,  interprets  to  be  the  spirit  of  wisdom., 
(i.  e.)  the  spirit  of  government,  fitting  and  ca])acitating  a  man 
to  discharge  the  duties  of  the  magistratical  office,  to  the  glory 
of  God  and  the  good  of  his  people;  without  this,  he  ought 
not  to  be  chosen.  Deitt.  i,  13  :  "  Take  ye  wise  men  and  under- 
standing, and  known  among  your  tribes,  and  I  will  make 
them  rulers  over  you."  Here  is  a  precept,  directing  the 
people  in  their  choice;  they  must  not  be  children  nor  fools; 
if  so,  they  are  plagues  and  punishments,  instead  of  scriptural 
magistrates,  who  are  always  a  blessing.  And  they  must  be 
men  of  known  integrity  and  affection  to  the  real  welfare  of 
Israel^  not  such  as  are  known  to  be  haters  of,  and  disd-flected 
to  the  Israel  of  God.  Again,  the  express  law  of  the  king,  is, 
that  he  must  be  one  of  the  Lord's  chosing  ;  Deut.  xvii.  14,  15  : 
"  When  thou  art  come  unto  the  land  which  tlie  Lord  thy 
God  giveth  thee,  and  shalt  possess  it,  and  shalt  dwell  therein, 
and  shalt  say,  I  will  set  a  king  over  me,  like  as  all  the  na- 
tions about  me:  thou  shalt  in  anj^wise  set  him  king  over 
thee,  whom  the  Lord  thy  God  shall  choose:  one  from  among 
thy  brethren  shalt  thou  set  king  over  thee,  thou  may  est  not 
set  a  stranger  over  thee,  who  is  not  thy  brother."  Here, 
though  christians  have  a  right  to  set  a  king  over  them,  yet, 
it  is  evident,  they  are  not  left  at  liberty  to  choose  whom  tuey 
please,  but  are,  in  the  most  express  and  positive  terms,  limited 
and  circumscribed  in  their  choice  to  him,  whom  the  Lord 
their  God  shall  choose:  and  this  divine  choice  must  cer- 
tainly be  understood  (in  a  large  sense)  of  a  person  of  such  a 
character,  temper  of  mind,  and  qualifications,  as  God  [lointed 
out  to  them  in  his  law,  particularly  in  the  text  before  cited  (for 
whatever  God's  word  approves  of  and  chooses,  that  God  him- 
self chooses).  And  in  the  text  before,  as  the  person  is  further 
described,  both  negatively  and  positively,  he  must  be  a 
brother ;  which  relation,  is  not  to  be  confined  to  that  of 
kindred  or  nation,  but  especially  respects  religion.  He  must 
not  be  a  stranger  and  enemy  to  the  true  religion,  but  a  brother, 
in  respect  of  a  cordial  embracing,  and  sincere  profession  (so 
far  as  men  can  judge)  of  the  same  cause  of  religion,  and  so 
one,  of  whom  it  maybe  expected  that  he  will  emplo^^  his 
power  and  interest  to  advance  the  kingdom  of  Jesus  Christ. 
This  precept  respects  the  office,  and  points  at  the  very  deed 
of  constitution,  and,  in  the  most  positive  manner,  restricts 
not  only  the  people  of  the  Jci(;5, but  every  nation  blessed  with 
the  light  of  divine  revelation,  in  their  setting  up  of  civil 
rulers,  pointing  forth  on  whom  they  may,  and  on  whom  they 


[108  J 

may  not  confer  this  honorable  office.     The  same  truth  is  con- 
firmed by  2   Sajn.  xxiii,  2,3,  4:  ''The  spirit  of  the  Lord 
spake  hy  me — the  God  of  Israel  said, — he  that  ruleth  over 
men  must  be  just,  rulintr  in  the  fear  ot  God." — So  Job  xxxiv^ 
17,  18  :  "  Shall  even  he  that  hateth  right  govern  ? — Is  it  tit  to 
say  to  a  king,  Thou   art    wicked  ?  and  to  princes.  Ye  are 
ungodly  ?"  In  which  words,  while  EWiu  is  charging  Job  with 
blasphemy,  in  accusing  God  of  injustice,  declaring  that  if 
l,e  made  God  a  hater  of  right  and  impeached  him  of  injus- 
tice, he  did,  in  effect,  blasphemously  deny  his  government, 
universal  dominion  and  sovereignty  in  the  world.     It  is  not 
only  supposed,  but  strongly    asserted    and  affirmed,   that  he 
that  hateth  right  should  not  govern.     Again,  1  Cor.  vi,  1,  4, 
5:    "  If  then   ye   have  judgments    of  things  pertaining   to 
this  life,  set  them  to  judge — Is  it  so,  that  there  is  not  a  wise 
man  among  3'ou  ?  no,  not  one  that  is  able  to  judge  between 
his  brethren  ?"     All  these  texts,  which  are  plain,  positive, 
moral  precepts,  whereby  God  hath  set  boundaries  about  his 
own  ordinance ;  that    it  be  not   corrupted  by  men,  as   they 
demonstrate  what  magistrates   ought  to  be,  and  prove  that 
they    cannot   be   of  God's   ordaining   who  have   not  these 
qualifications:  so  they  evince,  that  scriptural  qualifications 
are  nothing  less   necessary   and   essential    to  the  being  of  a 
lawful  scriptural  magistrate,  than  the  consent  of  the  people ; 
and  consequently,  do  sufficiently  overturn  this  antiscriptural 
scheme.     Seceders  indeed  grant,  that  God  hath  declared  his 
will,  concerning  the  choice  of  magistrates  in  the  above,  and 
such  like  precepts;  but,  from  their  granting  these  scriptural 
qualifications  to  be  only  advantageous  to  those  that  have  them, 
and   necessary  to  the  well-being  and    usefulness  of  lawful 
magistrates,  and  at  the  same  time  denying  them  to  be  neces- 
sary   to   the   being   thereof;    it  necessarily   follows,  as  the 
consequence  of  their  sentiments,  that  they  allow  civil  society 
a  negative  over   the  supreme  Lawgiver  in  this  matter;  and 
in  so  doing,  exalt  the  will   and   inclination   of  the  creature 
above  the  will  of  the  Creator,  which  is  the  very  definit  on  of 
sin.     Say  they  in  the  forequoted  pamphlet,  page  80th,  "  It  is 
manifest,  that  the  due  measure  and  performance  of  scriptural 
qualifications  and  duties,  belong  not  to  the  being  and  validity 
of  tlie  magistrate's  office,  but  to  the  well-being  and  usefulness 
thereof."     How  easy  is  it  here  to  turn  their  own    artillery 
against  themselves,  and  s[)lit  their  argument  with  a  wedge 
of  its  own  timber?    For  if,  as  is  granted, scri[>tural  qualifica- 
tions are  essential  to  the  usefulness  of  the  magistrate's  office, 
they  nmst  also  be  necessary  to  the  being  thereof,  otherwise 
it    is    in   itself    quite     useless.     And    if    in    itself    useless, 


[109J 

with  respect  to  the  great  ends  thereof,  without  the  due 
measure  of  scriptural  qualifications,  it  cannot  then  be  the 
ordinance  of  God,  in  regard  it  must  not  be  supposed,  that  a 
God  of  infinite  wisdom  and  goodness,  who  does  nothing  in 
vain,  has  instituted  an  ordinance  for  the  good  of  his  people, 
in  subserviency  to  his  glory,  which  yet,  in  itself  (as  to  its 
being  and  essence),  is  useless,  and  of  no  profit  nor  advantage 
to  them.  And  as  for  their  comparison  of  the  magistrate's 
office  to  other  common  and  ordinary  places  and  delations 
among  men,  the  parallel  will  not  hold,  no  not  for  illustration, 
far  less  for  a  proof  of  their  doctrine,  ^or  is  there  any  com- 
parison, unless  they  can  prove,  that  God  in  his  word  has  as 
plainly  and  positively  required  men  to  be  so  and  so  qualified, 
before  it  is  lawful  for  them  to  enter  into,  or  for  others  to  put 
them  in  such  places  and  relations,  as  he  has  done,  with  regard 
to  magistracy.  This  is  indeed  the  scope  and  end  of  their  whole 
scheme,  to  derogate  from,  degrade  and  lessen  the  dignity  of 
this  great  ordinance  of  magistracy,  allowing  it  no  more  than 
what  is  common  to  men  in  general,  in  other  inferior  states 
and  ordinary  business  of  life,  alleging,  "  That  these  qualifica- 
tions (which  they  grant  God  has  prescribed  in  his  word)  are 
only  advantageous  to  them  that  have  them  ;"  and  that  at  the 
hazard  of  evidently  opposing  and  contradicting  the  intention 
of  the  Spirit  of  God,  in  the  above  texts  of  scripture,  which 
imply  a  specialty,  and  particular  appropriation  to  kings  and 
rulers  in  their  office. 

Again,  this  principle  either,  as  above  said,  denies  magis- 
tracy  to  be  God's  ordinance  instituted  in  his  word ;  or  then 
says,  that  he  hath  instituted  ordinances  in  his  revealed  will, 
without  prescribing  any  qualifications  as  essential  to  their 
being,  but  entirely  left  the  constitution  of  them  to  the  will 
of  man.  But  how  absurd  is  this,  and  derogatory  to  the 
glory  of  God,  in  all  his  perfections,  who  is  a  God  of  order, 
once  to  imagine,  that  he  hath  set  any  of  his  ordinances, 
either  as  to  matter  or  manner,  upon  the  precarious  footing  of 
the  pure  will  of  wicked  and  ungodly  men  ?  The  smallest 
acquaintance  with  divine  revelation  will  readily  convince, 
that  he  hath  not.  It  may  as  well,  and  with  the  same  parity 
of  reason,  be  refused,  that  there  are  any  qualifications  requis- 
ite, as  essential  to  the  being  and  validity  of  the  office  of  the 
ministry,  but  only  necessary  to  its  well-being  and  usefulness  ; 
and  therefore,  is  as  lawful  (in  its  exercise)  in  the  want  of 
these  qualifications,  as  the  ordinance  of  magistracy  is  ac- 
counted to  be.  But  how  contrary  is  this  to  scripture.  Tit.  i, 
7,  8 ;  1  Tim.  iii,  2,  3,  4,  5,  6,  7,  &c.  Kow,  comparing  these 
with   the  above-cited  texts,  respecting  the  qualifications  of 


[110  J 

magistrates,  it  appears,  tliat  the  qualifications  of  the  magis- 
trate are  required  in  the  same  express  and  as  strong  terms  (if 
not  also  somewhat  more  clearly)  as  the  qualiticatious  of  the 
minister;  and  seeing  a  holy  God  hath  made  no  ditference,  a& 
to  the  essentiality  of  the  qualifications  pertaining  to  these 
distinct  ordinances,  it  is  too  much  presumption  for  any 
creature  to  attempt  doing  it.  Both  magistrate  and  minister 
are,  in  their  different  and  distinct  s})heres,  clothed  with  an 
equal  authority  from  the  law  of  God, — have  subjection  and 
obedience  equall}^  under  the  same  pains,  required  to  them 
respectively,  (as  Deut.  xvii.  9  to  13 ;  2  Chron,  xix,  5  to  11 ; 
Heb.  xiii,  17,  &c.) — and  the  qualifications  of  both,  as  above, 
stated  and  determined  with  equal  peremptoriness,  making 
them  no  less  essential  to  the  being  and  validity  of  the  one 
than  the  other.  And  this  being  the  case,  it  is  not  easy  to 
understand  how  Seceders  will  reconcile  their  principles  anent 
civil  government,  with  their  principle  and  practice,  in  sepa- 
rating from  an  established  church  or  ministry,  whose  consti- 
tution they  acknowledge  to  be  good ;  and  who  being  pres- 
byterially  ordained,  are  also  still  countenanced  by  the  bodj^  of 
the  people.  Sure,  had  they  dealt  fairly,  honestly  and. impar- 
tially in  the  matters  of  God,  they  would  have  acted  in  this 
case  agreeably  to  their  declared  principle,  page  79th  of  their 
pamphlet,  viz:  "The  passages  holding  forth  these  qualifica- 
tions and  duties  of  magistrates,  do  not  by  the  remotest  hint 
impl}^  that,  if  in  any  wise  they  be  deficient  in,  or  make 
defection  from  the  same,  their  authority  and  commands,  even 
in  matters  lawful,  must  not  be  subjected  unto  and  obeyed," 
&c.  Certainly, according  to  this,  all  the  deficiencies,  defections, 
and  mal-administrations  in  the  church,  could  never  have 
been  a  warrantable  ground  (which  yet  they  make  the  only 
ground)  of  their  separation  from  her.  "  But  on  the  con- 
trary," they  should  still  have  continued  in  communion 
wdth  her,  and  subjection  to  her  in  matters  lawful,  in  a  way 
of  testifying  "  against  the  same,  and  essaying  their  refor- 
mation, by  all  means  that  were  habile  for  them."  Seceders 
must  either  grant,  that  such  was  their  duty,  and  so  of  them- 
selves condenni  their  separation  as  unwarrantable;  or  else 
deny,  that  the  qualifications  of  the  magistrate  and  minister 
are  required  in  the  same  express  terms  in  scrii)ture;  that 
both  are  clothed  with  an  equal  (though  distinct)  authority  ;, 
and  that  subjection  and  obedience  are  under  the  same 
pains  enjoined  to  both,  and  consequently  say,  that  it  is  less- 
dangerous  to  cast  off,  contemn  and  disregard  the  authority  of 
a  church,  than  that  of  the  state;  while  yet  (according  to 
their  scheme)  civil  authority  is  entirely  resolved  into,  and 


[Ill] 

depends  purely  upon  the  changeable  will  of  civil  society. 
But,  it  is  presumed,  they  will  allow,  that  ecclesiastical 
authority  is  derived,  and  Hows  from,  and  depends  entirely 
upon  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  alone,  the  glorious  Judge,  Law- 
giver, and  King  of  liis  church;  so  that  (according  to  them) 
this  being  of  a  far  more  noble  extract  and  original,  it  must 
be  of  far  more  dangerous  consequence,  to  contemn  and  cast 
olf  it,  than  the  other. 

Again,  as  this  doctrine  gives  unto  men  a  negative  over  the 
Holy  One  of  Israel,  it  ah o  opens  a  wide  door  for  introducing 
^and  enforcing  the  cause  of  deism,  already  too  prevalent:  for, 
if  all  who  are  set  up  by  civil  society,  however  wicked,  and 
void  of  the  qualifications  God  has  required,  while  they  are 
acknowledged  and  submitted  to  by  their  constituents,  must 
be  equally  regarded  as  GckI's  ordinance,  with  those  who  have 
those  qualilications  ;  then  it  will  follow,  that  the  corrupt  will 
of  wicked  men  legitimates  the  magistrate's  ottice  and  au- 
thority, not  only  without,  but  in  contradiction  to  the  pre- 
ceptive will  of  God  ;  and' what  is  this  {absit  blasphemia),  but 
to  exalt  man  above  God,  in  giving  unto  the  universal  Sove- 
reign ajid  Sapreme  Lawgiver,  only  a  consultative  power  in 
the  constitution  of  magistracy,  while  it  abscribes  unto  man 
an  absolute  and  detinitive  power,  whereby  they  have  power 
to  receive  or  reject  the  law  of  God  (at  least  respecting 
magistracy)  at  pleasure,  and  their  deed  of  constitution  be 
equally  valid,  when  opposite,  as  when  agreeable  unto,  and 
founded  upon  his  righteous  law.  And  sure,  by  the  same 
reason,  that  man  may  take  a  liberty  to  dispense  w^ith  the 
authority  of  God,  in  one  point  of  his  commanding  will;  he 
may  also  in  another,  until  at  last  every  part  of  it  is  rejected. 
It  is  but  a  contempt  of  the  same  authority,  and  he  that 
offends  in  one  point,  is  guilty  of  all.  Such  are  the  absurdi- 
ties that  this  their  scheme  leads  to,  though  it  is  hoped  the 
authors  do  not  intend  so.  It  may  here  only  be  necessary 
further  to  observe,  that  among  the  other  desperate  shifts 
Seceders  are  di'iven  to  in  defense  of  their  favorite  notion, 
they  say,  that  scri[)tural  qualifications  cannot  be  essential  to 
God's  ordinance  of  magistracy,  or  necessarily  required  as  a 
condition  of  it  sine  qua  nan;  for  then  it  would  be  the  same 
thing  with  magistracy  :  nor  can  these  qualifications  be  the 
condition  (sine  qua  non^  or)^  without  which  one  could  not 
be  a  magistrate;  tor  then  it  would  be  necessary,  that  every 
one  were  possessed  of  them  faultlessl3^  before  he  could  be 
owned  as  a  lawful  magistrate:  either  of  which  they  allege 
would  be  grossly  absurd.  But  this  plausible  and  fair-set 
argument  of  theirs,  if  it  prove  any  thing,  will  prove  more 


[112] 

than  it  is  supposed  they  themselves  will  grant,  and  conse- 
quently proves  nothing  at  all.  For  the  same  gross  absurdity 
may,  with  equal  reason,  be  inferred  from  a  maintaining, 
that  a  due  measure  and  performance  of  scripture 
qualifications  and  duties  are  essential  to  any  other  of 
God's  ordinances,  and  so  that  these  are  the  ordinance 
itself.  For  instance,  they  might  as  well  reason  (as  some 
have  justly  observed  already),  that  scriptural  qualifications 
are  not  essential  to  a  lawful  gospel  minister,  for  then  it  would 
be  the  same  thing  with  the  ministry,  itself:  nor  can  it  be, 
a  condition,  without  which  one  is  not  really  a  minister,  unless 
he  were  so  fautlessly.  And  thus  they  have  at  once  stripped, 
not  only  all  of  the  race  of  Adam,  that  ever  exercised  that 
office,  but  themselves  also,  of  any  real  mission,  as  ministers, 
unless  they  have  assumed  the  pope's  infallibility,  and  are 
advanced  to  the  3Ioravian  perfection.  So,  although  the 
scripture  declares  it  essential  to  the  true  church,  that  she 
hold  the  head,  yet  by  their  childish  reasoning,  this  would 
infer  a  conclusion  big  with  absurdities,  even  that  this  quali- 
fication of  a  true  church,  is  the  church  itself.  And,  in  like 
manner,  it  can  no  longer  be  admitted,  that  faith  in* Christ, 
and  holiness,  are  essential  to  the  being  of  a  true  Christian  ; 
for  that  would  be  to  make  faith  the  same  thing  with  a 
Christian,  and  would  infer,  that  as  in  heaven  only  holiness 
is  in  perfection,  so  there  alone  Christians  are  to  be  found. 
Upon  the  whole,  as  the  Lord  has  given  an  indispensable  law, 
respecting  the  constitution  of  kings,  showing  what  condi- 
tions and  qualifications  are  required  of  them  ;  it  undeniably 
follows,  as  an  established  truth,  that  christianized  nations 
must  invest  none  with  that  office,  but  in  a  way  agreeable 
to  that  law,  and  those  alone  according  to  scripture,  are 
magistrates  of  God's  institution,  who  are  in  some  measure 
possessed  of  these  qualifications.  It  is  therefore  an  anti- 
scriptural  tenet,  that  nothing  is  requisite  to  constitute  a 
lawful  magistrate,  but  the  inclinations  and  choice  of  the 
civil  society. 

3.  The  presbytery  testify  against  this  sj^stem  of  principles 
because  it  has  a  direct  tendency  to  destroy  the  just  and 
necessary  distinction  that  ought  to  be  maintained  between 
the  perceptive  and  providential  will  of  God,  and  necessarily 
jumbles  and  confounds  these  together,  in  such  a  manner,  as 
a  man  is  left  at  an  utter  uncertainty  to  know  when  he  is 
accepted  and  approven  of  God  in  his  conduct,  and  when  not. 
That  this  is  the  scope  of  their  principles,  is  confessed,  p.  87, 
of  their  book  of  principles  :  "Nothing  needs  be  added  [say 
they]  for  the  clearing  of  this,  but  the  overthrow  of  a  dis- 


[113] 

tinction  that  has  been  made  of  those  who  are  acknowledged 
as  magistrates  bj  civil  society,  into  such  as  are  so  by  the 
preceptive  will  of  God,  and  such  are  so  by  his  providential 
will  only ;  which  distinction  is  altogether  groundless  and 
absurd.  It  will  not  be  refused,  that  all  such  preceptive  mag- 
istrates are  also  providential.  But,  moreover,  all  such  prov- 
idential magistrates  are  also  preceptive.  The  office  and 
authority  ofthem  all,  in  itself  considered,>-does  equally  arise 
from,  and  agrees  to  the  preceptive  will  of  God."  A  doctrine 
most  shocking  in  itself  I  How  strange  !  that  Christians,  from 
any  consideration,  will  obstinately  maintain  a  favorite  opin- 
ion, which  is  confessedly  built  upon,  and  cannot  be  estab- 
lished but  at  the  expense  of  blending  and  confounding  the 
preceptive  and  providential  will  of  God,  while  the  distinction 
thereof  is  clearly  and  inviolably  established  in  the  word  of 
God  1  Although  divine  providence,  which  is  an  unsearchable 
depth,  does  many  times,  and  in  many  cases,  serve  as  a  com- 
mentary to  open  up  the  hidden  mysteries  of  scripture  revel- 
ation ;  yet,  where  the  law  of  God  in  the  scriptures  of  truth 
is  silent,  there  providence  regulates  not,  is  neither  institutive, 
nor  declarative  of  God's  will  to  be  done  by  us ;  and  where 
the  said  divine  law  doth  ordain  or  deliver  a  rule  to  us  in 
any  case,  there  providence  gives  no  relaxation,  allowance  or 
countermand  to  the  contrary.  (See  Gee  on  magistracy,  in 
his  excellent  discourse  on  providence.)  That  an  overthrow 
of  this  necessary  distinction,  for  the  sake  of  the  above  dan- 
gerous scheme,  cannot  be  admitted  of,  in  a  consistency  with 
a  due  regard  to  the  authority  of  revealed  religion,  and  that 
therefore  the  right  and  lawfulness  of  magistracy  is  not 
founded  upon  the  providential  will  of  God,  though  they  are 
countenanced  and  supported  by  the  majority  of  a  nation, 
will  partly  appear  from  the  following  considerations : — 

1.  If  there  is  no  distinction  to  be  made  between  the  pre- 
ceptive and  providential  will  of  God,  then  is  providence 
equally  in  all  respects  the  rule  of  duty,  as  much  as  the  pre- 
cept is,  and  so  man  should  be  left  at  an  utter  uncertainty, 
what  is  duty,  in  regard  of  the  opposition  that  is  many  times 
between  providential  dispensations  and  the  precept.  I^ay, 
then  it  is  impossible  that  man  can  be  guilty  of  sin,  in  trans- 
gressing the  divine  will,  because  God  infallibly  brings  to 
pass,  by  his  holy  and  over-ruling  providence,  whatever  he 
has  decreed  by  his  eternal  purpose.  Rom.  ix,  17.  And  thus 
the  Jews,  in  murdering  the  Son  of  God,  should  be  acquitted 
from  the  charge  of  guilt,  and  could  not  be  said  to  transgress 
the  divine  will. 

2.  If  no  distinction  is  to  be  made  between  the  preceptive 


[114] 

and  providential  will  of  God,  but  providence  is  declarative 
of  the  precept,  then  is  providence  a  complete  rule  without 
the  written  word.  And  this  at  once  supersedes  the  necessity 
of  divine  revelation,  and  derogates  from  the  sufficiency  and 
perfection  of  the  scriptures  of  truth.  The  written  word  is 
affirmed  to  be  -perfect.  Psal.  xix,  7.  Sinners  are  reproved  for 
doing  that  which  the  word  gave  no  command  for,  Jer.  vii, 
81  and  xix,  5;  and  challenged  for  following  these  promising 
appearances.  Isa.  xxx,  1,  2,  3,  11.  It  is  therefore  daring  pre- 
sum})tion  to  set  up  providence  for  a  rule  in  opposition  to  the 
written  law  of  God.  Hence  it  must  be  concluded,  eitlier 
that  the  preceptive  will  of  God  in  the  scriptures  is  imper- 
fect, or  the  laws  therein  repealable  by  providence ;  or  then 
that  providence  cannot  be  the  rule  of  human  actions. 

3.  If  the  distinction  between  the  preceptive  and  provi- 
dential will  of  God  is  to  be  overthrown,  then  providence 
must  be  expressive  of  God's  approbative  ordination,  equally 
as  his  revealed  will  is.  For,  without  th.\'^(viz:  the  divine 
approbation)  there  can  be  no  lawful  title  to  what  is  possessed. 
But  this  is  what  providence  of  itself  cannot  do ;  it  cannot 
without  the  precept  discover  either  God's  allowance  or  dis- 
allowance. If  then  this  distinction  is  denied,  and  the  prov- 
idential will  of  God  asserted  to  be  declarative  of  his  pre- 
ceptive, and  so  of  his  approbative  will ;  it  remains  to  be 
manifested,  where  and  how  it  hath  been  appointed  of  God 
for  such  an  end,  an  end  that  is  by  the  spirit  of  God  denied 
unto  it.  Eccl.  ix,  1,  2.  4.  If  this  distinction  is  to  be  over- 
thrown, then  either  the  providential  will  of  God,  without 
any  regard  to  the  precept,  in  every  case,  and  in  every  sort  of 
tenure,  gives  a  just  and  lawful  right  and  title  ;  or  God  hath 
declared  in  his  word  that  it  shall  be  so  in  the  manner  of 
civil  government  only,  viz:  that  whosoever  gains  the  as- 
cendancy in  the  inclinations  of  the  people,  by  whatever 
sinful  methods  this  is  obtained,  it  matters  not,  and  so  is  by 
the  hands  of  providence  raised  up  above  all  his  rivals  to  the 
regal  dignity,  he  is  the  lawful  magistrate,  God's  ordinance 
according  to  his  precept.  The  first  cannot  be  said;  it  were 
impious  to  suppose  it ;  for  that  would  justify  all  robberies 
and  violences,  and  ligitimate  every  fraud  ;  not  the  latter,  for 
where  is  it  to  be  found  in  all  the  book  of  divine  revelation, 
that  God  hath  made  such  a  law  touching  magistracy  ?  But 
how  big  with  absurdities,  to  say,  that  a  holy  God  has  given 
to  man  a  plain  and  positive  law  to  be  his  governing  rule  in 
every  particular  that  concerns  him,  this  of  magistracy  only 
excepted.  In  this  great  ordinance  he  hath  wholly  left  him 
to  be  guided,  or  rather  misled  and  bewildered  by  his  own 


[115] 

corrupt  inclinations :  but  the  contrary  of  this  has  been  in 
part  discovered,  and  may  further.  5.  If,  in  order  to  estab- 
lish their  anti-government  scheme,  tlie  foresaid  distinction 
is  to  be  destroyed,  and  all  such  as  are  providential  powers, 
and  acknowledged  by  man,  are  also  preceptive,  and  therefore 
to  be  submitted  to  for  conscience  sake,  then  are  the  king- 
doms of  men  necessarily  obliged  to  own  and  submit  unto 
the  dominion  of  the  devil  The  devil  not  only  claims  to 
hin}self  the  possession  of  the  power  of  all  the  kingdoms  of 
this  world,  but  it  is  certain  that  of  the  most  of  them  he  still 
retains  an  actual  predominancy,  hence  stiled  the  God  of  this 
world.  Kow,  it  cannot  be  refused,  but  that  the  power  he 
exercises  is  providential  (or  a  power  of  permission) ;  and  it 
is  most  certain,  that  it  is  with  the  consent  and  good  will  of 
all  the  children  of  men,  while  in  a  natural  state.  But  are 
men  therefore  obliged  to  acknowledge  his  authority,  or  sub- 
mit to  that  providential  power  he  maintains  over  them  ?  If 
every  providential  power  is  also  preceptive,  the  answer  must 
be  given  in  the  affirmative.  The  like  may  be  said  of  the 
Pope  of  Rome^  the  devil's  captain-general,  to  display  his 
hellish  banner  against  the  King  of  kings,  and  Lord  of  lords, 
with  respect  to  those  nations  where  he  is  acknowledged  in 
his  diabolical  pretensions.  It  can  be  to  no  purpose  for  Se- 
ceders  to  allege  that  the  Pope  claims  a  power  unlaw^ful  in 
itself,  and  therefore  cannot  be  owned,  in  regard  the  person 
whom  they  make  a  pretended  acknowledgment  of,  as  their 
lawful  sovereign,  is  by  the  act  of  his  constitution  invested 
with  a  similar  power,  a  power  both  civil  and  ecclesiastical, 
and  declared  to  be  head  of  the  church,  as  well  as  the 
state.  Nothing,  therefore,  remains  for  them,  but  either  to 
acknowledge  this  clear  distinction  between  the  providential 
and  preceptive  will  of  God,  or  then  profess  the  lawfulness  of 
both  the.  above  mentioned  powers.  6.  If  the  foresaid  dis- 
tinction is  too  big  with  absurdities  to  be  received,  and  if  the 
authority  of  all  providential  magistrates  does  equally  arise 
from,  and  agree  unto  the  precept,  then  it  would  be  no  sin  to 
resist  the  powers  ordained  of  God,  provided  that  providence 
proves  auspicious  and  favorable  to  the  rebel,  and  advances 
him  to  the  throne,  with  the  good  will  of  his  fellow  rebellious 
subjects,  by  expelling  the  lawful  sovereign;  at  least  such 
resistance  could  not  be  determined  to  be" sinful,  until  once 
the  event  declared,  whether  providence  would  countenance 
the  treasonable  attempt  or  not.  Thus  what  the  apostle  de- 
clares a  damnable  sin,  Rom.  xiii,  2,  must  be  justified  and 
made  the  foundation  of  subsequent  duty,  if  patronized  by  a 
multitude.     This  they   evidently  maintain,  as  appears  from 


[116] 

their  declaration  of  principles,  page  82,  where,  pretending  to 
obviate  some  difficulties  anent  their  principles,  arising  from 
the  people  of  God's  disowning  arjti-scriptural  magistrates: 
"The  whole  nature  of  any  simple  revolt  (say  they)  lies  in 
breaking  off  immediately  from  the  civil  body,  by  withdraw- 
ing from,  or  withdrawing  part  of  their  territories  ;  and  then 
it  necessarily  follows  at  the  same  time,  that  these  revolters 
break  off  from  the  head  of  the  civil  body,  without  ever 
denying  his  authority  over  the  members  who  still  cleave 
unto  the  same."  This,  in  connection  with  their  grand  foun- 
dation principle,  and  the  scope  of  their  discourse  at  the  above 
citation,  discovers  that  they  grant,  that  if  the  whole  civil 
society  should  reject  the  authority  they  had  set  up  (however 
agreeable  it  should  have  been  to  the  preceptive  will  of  God, 
and  should  again  set  up  another,  though  never  so  opposite 
thereto),  their  doing  so  would  be  lawful ;  but  it  is  not  lawful 
for  a  few  to  disown  any  authority  (however  wicked  and 
antiscriptural),  unless  they  can  at  the  same  time  withdraw 
from,  or  withdraw  part  of  his  territories.  Nothing  can  be 
more  absurd  than  to  say,  that  a  people  are  bound  by  the  laws 
of  God  to  give  subjection  for  conscience  sake,  and  yet  at  the 
same  time  are  at  liberty  to  cast  off  and  reject  the  same 
authority  at  pleasure.  If  the  magistrate  be  lawful,  it  is 
utterly  unlawful  to  reject  him ;  an  attempt  to  divest  him  of 
his  office,  power  and  authority,  though  carried  on  by  the 
primores  regni,  is  rebellion  against  God.  It  is  most  ridicu- 
lous to  allege,  that  a  people  considered  as  a  body  politic,  are 
not  under  the  same  obligation  to  their  rightful  sovereign,  as 
when  they  are  considered  as  individuals,  but  may  lawfully 
reject  him,  and  set  up  another,  if  they  please;  so  that  he  who 
one  day  is  God's  minister,  next  day  hath  no  title  to  that 
office,  but  if  he  claim  it,  must  be  treated  as  a  traitor, 
whereb}^  all  security  that  can  possibly  be  given  to  the  most 
lawful  magistrate,  is  at  once  destroyed.  Thus,  if  the  Cheva- 
lier had  succeeded  in  his  late  attempt,  had  gained  the  favor 
of  the  primores  regni,  and  thereby  mounted  the  British 
throne;  Seceders  must  then,  of  necessity,  either  have  quit 
their  present  principles,  or  then  have  subjected  to  his  yoke 
for  conscience  sake,  under  the  pain  of  eternal  damnation. 
His  being  a  professed  papist,  and  enslaved  vassal  of  Borne, 
could  not  have  warranted  them  to  leave  their  place  of  sub- 
jection to  him  while  owned  by  the  civil  society,  and  so  they 
must  have  treated  the  present  powers  as  usurpers  and  ene- 
mies to  government,  though  they  now  flatter  them  with  the 
pretensions  of  an  ill-grounded  loyalty.  Again,  how  absurd  and 
pelf-contradictory  to  grant,  that   a  minor  part  may  not  only 


[117] 

revolt,  but  also  withdraw  part  of  a  prince's  territories ;  and 
yet  that  the  same  party  may  not,  when  residing  in  the 
nation,  refuse  to  acknowledge  the  lawfulness  of  an  antiscrip- 
tural  power.  This  is  to  say,  that  people  are  no  longer 
obliged  to  submit  to  authority,  than  they  are  in  capacity  to 
withdraw  from,  or  withdraw  part  of  their  prince's  territories 
from  him,  and  so  to  justify  their  rebellion,  by  that  which 
can  only  be  a  terrible  aggravation  of  their  sin.  These,  with 
a  number  of  other  absurdities,  natively  flow  from  a  denial  of 
the  distinction  between  the  providential  and  preceptive  will 
of  God,  making  the  title  of  the  lawful  magistrate  depend 
solely  upon  the  will  of  the  people.  Nothing  is  more  evident 
than  this,  that  if  the  inclinations  of  the  people,  exclusive  of 
all  other  qualifications,  constitute  a  lawful  magistrate,  then 
(though  he  rules  ever  so  agreeable  to  God's  preceptive  will), 
so  soon  as  this  body  (though  in  a  most  unjust  and  tyrannical 
manner)  casts  him  oil:',  he  that  moment  for  ever  loses  all  title 
and  claim  to  the  office,  and  can  no  longer  be  regarded  as  a 
lawful  magistrate.  A  principle  that  in  its  nature  and  ten- 
dency is  introductive  of  all  anarchy  and  confusion,  and  with 
the  greatest  propriety  deserves  the  encomium  of  the  anti- 
government  scheme. 

7.  This  anarchical  system  of  principles,  which  destroys  the 
above  just  and  necessary  d  stinction,  is  directly  in  opposition 
to  the  laudable  and  almost  universal  practice  of  all  nations, 
in  ordaining  and  enacting  certain  fundamental  laws,  consti- 
tutions and  provisos,  whereby  the  throne  is  fenced,  the  way 
to  it  limited,  and  the  property  thereof  predisposed.  The 
Scripture  sufficiently  discovers  those  restrictions  and  rules, 
which  God  iiimself  has  prescribed  and  laid  down,  for 
directing  and  determining  of  his  people's  procedure  about  the 
erection  of  magistrates.  And  profane  history  abounds  in 
discovering  certain  fundamental  laws  and  conditions  to  take 
place,  almost  in  every  nation,  without  conforming  to  which, 
none  can  be  admitted  to  that  dignity  over  them.  But  to 
what  purpose  are  any  such  laws  and  constitutions,  if  this 
vague  principle  is  once  admitted,  which  cancels  and  disan- 
nuls all  such  provisos  and  acts?  Why  should  J/o5fS  have 
been  so  solicitous  about  his  successor  in  the  government  of 
Israel.,  Numb,  xxvii,  15-17,  if  God  had  ordained  the  inclina- 
tions of  the  people  alone  should  determine  ?  Or  to  what 
purpose  did  Israel^  after  the  death  of  Joshua^  ask  of  God, 
who  should  be  their  leader,  if  their  own  inclinations  alone 
were  sufiicient  to  determine  it?  If  God  has  declared,  that 
the  corrupt  will  of  the  people  is  the  alone  basis  of  civil 
power,  then,  not  only  are  all  state  constitutions  and  funda- 


[118] 

mental  laws  useless,  because,  on  every  vacancy  of  the  throne, 
they  not  only  must  all  give  place  to  the  superior  obligation,  the 
incontrollable  law,  of  the  uncertain  inclinations  of  the 
body  politic,  but  they  are  in  their  nature  milawful;  their 
proper  use  in  every  nation  being  to  prevent  all  invasion  upon  the 
government  by  unqualified  persons,  and  to  illegitimate  it,  if 
at  any  time  done.  So,  that  if  the  consent  of  civil  society  is 
the  only  essential  condition  of  government  which  God  has 
authorized,  not  only  are  all  scriptural  conditions  and  quali- 
fications useless  aid  unlawful,  but  also  all  human  securities, 
either  from  intruders  or  for  lawful  governors,  are  unlawful, 
in  regard  the  very  design  of  them  all  is  to  oppose  this 
grand  foundation  principle,  the  jure-divinity  of  which 
Seceders  have  found  out,  and  do  confidently  maintain.  And 
thus,  by  the  seceding  scheme,  is  condemned,  not  only  the 
practice  of  almost  all  other  nations,  determining  by  law, 
some  indispensable  qualifications  that  their  rulers  mast  have  ; 
but  particularly  the  practice  of  these  once  reformed  lands, 
when  reformation  had  the  sanction,  not  only  of  ecclesiastic, 
but  also  of  civil,  authority,  is  hereby  condemned.  Scripture 
and  covenant  qualifications  were  then  made  essential  to  the 
being  of  a  lawful  magistrate,  by  the  fundamental  laws  and 
constitutions  of  the  nations;  so  that  however  the  inclina- 
tions of  the  people  might  run  (as  it  soon  appeared  they  were 
turned  in  opposition  to  these),  yet,  by  these  laws,  and  in  a 
consistency  with  that  constitution,  none  could  be  admitted  to 
the  place  or  places  of  civil  authority,  but  such  as  professed, 
and  outwardly  practiced^  according  to  reformation  princi- 
ples. See  act  Ibih^sess.  2d, pari.  1649.  And  how  happy  we 
had  been,  if  we  had  constantly  acted  in  conformity  to  these 
agreeable  laws,  experience,  both  former  and  latter,  will  bear 
witness.  How  much  better  had  it  been  for  us  to  have  walked 
in  God's  statutes,  and  executed  his  judgments,  than  by  our 
abhorrence  of  them,  and  apostasy  from  them,  to  provoke  him 
to  give  us  statutes  that  are  not  good,  and  judgments  whereby 
we  cannot  \iye{Ezck.  xx,  25),  or  have  any  comfortable  enjoy- 
ment and  possession  of  the  blessings  and  privileges  of  his 
everlasting  gospel,  as  it  is  with  us  at  this  day.  And  yet, 
this  is  what  Seceders  woukl  have  us  caressing,  embracing 
and  (with  them)  blessing  God  for,  under  the  notion  of  a 
present  good ;  and  so  bless  God  for  permitting  his  enemies 
(in  anger  against  an  ungrateful  and  guilty  people)  to  over- 
turn his  work  and  interest,  and  establish  themselves  upon 
the  ruins  thereof;  to  bless  him  for  making  our  own  iniqui- 
ties to  correct  us,  and  our  backslidings  to  reprove  us,  until 
we  know  what  an  evil  and  bitter  thing  it  is  to  depart  from 


[119  J 

the  Lord  God  of  our  fathers  ;  to  bless  him  (for  what  is 
matter  of  lamentation)  that  the  adversaries  of  Zion  are  the 
chief,  and  her  enemies  prosper,  Lam.  i,  5  :  and  all  this 
abstractly,  under  the  notion  of  good,  which  comes  very  near 
the  borders  of  blasphemy. 

But,  moreover,  the  civil  settlement  at  the  revolution  is 
also  condemned  by  this  principle  of  theirs ;  not  because  of 
its  opposition  to  a  covenanted  reformation,  bat  in  regard  it 
includes  some  essential  qualitications  required  in  the  su- 
preme civil  ruler.  The  nations  are,  by  that  deed  of  consti- 
tution, bound  up  in  their  election  of  a  magistrate;  and  all 
papists,  such  as  marry  with  papists,  or  do  not  publicly  pro- 
fess the  Protestant  religion,  are  declared  incapable  of  the 
throne.  So  that  we  see  the  present  law  makes  some  other 
qualitications,  besides  the  consent  of  the  body  politic,  essen- 
tial to  the  constitution  of  a  lawful  sovereign  in  Britain. 
From  all  which  it  is  plain,  that  this  principle  of  Seceders  is 
neither  a  reformation  nor  a  revolution  principle  ;  let  then  the 
impartial  world  judge  whence  it  came. 

Seceders^  in  consequence  of  their  contradictory  and  self- 
in.consistent  system  of  principles,  declare  they  cannot  swear 
allegiance  to  a  lawful  government.  They  maintain  the 
present  to  be  lawful,  jQt  (in  Dec.  of  their  principles,  page 
55th)  they  say,  "  The  question  is  not  whether  it  be  lawful  for 
us  to  swear  the  present  allegiance  to  the  civil  government, 
which  the  presbytery  acknowledge  they  cannot  do,  seeing 
there  are  no  oaths  to  the  government  in  being,  but  what  ex- 
clude the  oath  of  our  covenants,  and  homologate  the  united 
constitution."  But  seeing  they  acknowledge  that  every  con- 
stitution of  government,  that  comprehends  the  will  and  con- 
sent of  civil  society,  were  it  as  wicked  and  diabolical  as  can 
be  imagined,  is  lawful — yea,  as  lawful  as  any  that  is  most 
consonant  to  the  preceptive  will  of  God,  having  all  the  essen- 
tials of  his  ordinance  ;  and  seeing,  because  of  the  will  and  con- 
sent of  the  people,  they  own  the  present  to  be  lawful,  it  is  most 
surprising  why  they  cannot  swearallegiance  to  it ;  their  reasons 
cannot,  in  a  consistency  with  their  principle,  be  sustained  as 
valid.  That  the  present  oaths  of  allegiance  and  the  oath  of 
the  covenants  are  inconsistent,  is  readily  granted ;  but 
seeing  the  oaths  of  allegiance  bind  to  nothing  more  than 
what  they  confess  they  are  bound  to  for  conscience  sake, 
namely,  to  own  the  lawfulness  of  the  government,  and  to 
maintain  it  according  to  the  constitution  thereof  (which  is  a 
duty  owed  by  subjects  to  every  lawful  sovereign) ;  and  seeing 
that  whatever  is  in  the  oaths  of  allegiance  contrary  to  the 
covenants,  does  not  flow  from  them,  abstractly  considered, 


[120J 

but  from  the  constitution  to  which  they  bind  (which  con- 
stitution is  sanctified  by  the  people's  acknowledgment  of  it). 
If,  therefore,  the  covenants  forbid  a  duty,  to  which  they  are 
bound  for  conscience  sake,  their  authority  in  that  ought  not 
to  be  regarded. 

But  certainly  Seceders^  who  have  found  it  duty  to  alter 
and  model  the  covenants,  according  to  the  circumstances  of 
the  times  they  live  in,  might  have  found  it  easy  work  ta 
reconcile  the  oath  of  the  covenants  with  allegiance  to  a 
lawful  government.  The  other  part  of  their  reason  is  no 
less  ridiculous  and  self-contradictory,  viz:  "They  cannot 
swear  allegiance  to  the  present  government,  because  it  ho- 
mologates the  united  constitution."  But  is  not  this  consti- 
tution according  to  the  will,  and  by  consent  of,  the  body 
politic  ?  and  is  it  not  ordained  by  the  providential  will  of 
God  ?  therefore,  according  to  them,  has  all  the  essentials  of  a 
lawful  constitution,  which  claims  their  protection,  under 
the  pain  of  damnation.  How  great  the  paradox  1  they 
cannot  swear  allegiance,  because  they  would  bind  them 
to  acknowledge  a'lid  defend  a  lawful  constitution.  Is  not 
active  obedience,  is  not  professed  subjection  for  conscience 
sake,  an  homologation  of  the  constitution  ?  Certainly  they 
are,  and  that  not  in  word  only,  but  in  deed  and  in  truth. 
And  what  is  the  allegiance,  but  a  promise  to  persevere  in 
what  they  do  daily,  and  what  they  hold  as  their  indispensable 
duty  to  do  ?  To  grant  the  one,  then,  and  refuse  the  other,  is, 
in  effect,  to  homologate  or  acknowledge  the  constitution,  and 
not  to  acknowledge  it,  at  the  same  time,  which  is  a  glaring 
absurdity. 

But  here,  they  would  have  people  attend  to  their  chimeri- 
cal distinction  between  the  king's  civil  and  ecclesiastical 
authority.  They  have  made  a  successless  attempt  (in  order 
to  establish  their  anti-government  scheme)  for  the  overthrow 
of  a  distinction,  which  Heaven  has  irreversibly  fixed,  be- 
tween the  preceptive  and  providential  will  of  God ;  and,  for 
the  same  purpose,  they  will  impose  this  distinction  on  the 
generation — a  mere  shift  and  artifice,  which  has  no  founda- 
tion nor  subsistence  any  where  else,  but  in  their  imagination,, 
and  serves  for  no  purpose  but  to  cheat  their  own  and  others' 
consciences,  and  betray  the  cause  of  God.  It  is  plain,  that 
as  a  power,  both  civil  and  ecclesiastical,  belongs  to  the 
essence  and  constitution  of  an  English  diocesan  bishop,, 
so  the  same  is  declared  to  belong  now  to  the  essence 
and  constitution  of  an  English  king,  who  is  the  head 
and  chief  prelate  among  them  all;  and  it  is  their  manner  to 
call   themselves   his    bishops  (not  Christ's),  as  having  their 


[121 J 

power,  both  ecclesiastical  and  civil,  immediately  from  him^ 
as  the  fountain  of  all  power  within  his  dominions.  So  that 
there  is  no  room  for  this  distinction  of  Seceders  here,  unless 
they  are  such  expert  logicians,  as  to  distinguish  a  thing  from 
that  which  is  essential  to  it,  and  so  from  itself;  but  this  is  a 
destruction,  not  a  distinction.  Seceders  indeed  presume  and 
depend  very  much  upon  their  abilities  of  this  kind;  for  they 
can  distinguish  between  the  magistrate's  office  and  its  essen- 
tial qualifications,  which  God  has  inseparably  joined  together 
in  his  word.  They  can  distinctly  pray  for  the  head,  author, 
authorizer  and  prime  supporter,  of  abjured  prelacy  and  pre- 
lates, that  God  would  bless  him  in  his  government,  and  yet 
not  pray  for  the  prelates  themselves.  They  can  pray  very 
fervently  and  distinctly  for  the  British  and  Irish  parlia- 
ments, and  yet  not  at  all  pray  for  the  bishops,  necessary  and 
essential  members  there.  And  what  is  all  this  but  to  pray 
for  a  nonentity,  a  mere  creature  of  their  own  mind  ?  They 
have  neither  king  nor  parliament  in  their  abstracted  and 
imaginary  sense,  but  do  clearly  distinguish  themselves  out  of 
both.  We  might  refer  them  to  that  famous  and  faithful 
embassador,  and  renowned  martyr  for  the  cause  and  testimony 
of  Jesus,  Mr.  Donald,  Cargill^  in  his  last  speech  and  tes- 
timony, and  let  him  determine  the  controversy  (in  this  par- 
ticular) between  us.  They  will  not  be  so  bold  as  to  say, 
that  this  honorable  witness  died  with  a  lie  in  his  right 
hand.  His  words  are  these :  ''  As  to  the  cause  of  my 
suffering,  the  main  is,  not  acknoAvledging  the  present 
authority  as  it  is  now  established.  This  is  the  magistracy 
I  have  rejected,  that  was  invested  with  Christ's  power;  and 
seeing  that  power  taken  from  Christ,  which  is  his  glory,  and 
made  the  essential  of  the  crown,  I  thought  it  was  as  if  I  had 
seen  one  wearing  my  husband's  clothes,  after  he  had  killed 
him.  And  seeing  it  is  made  the  essential  of  the  crown, 
there  is  no  distinction  we'  can  make,  that  can  free  the  con- 
science of  the  acknowledger  from  being  a  partaker  of  this 
sacrilegious  robbing  of  God.  And  it  is  but  to  cheat  our 
conscience,  to  acknowledge  the  civil  power,  for  it  is  not  the 
civil  power  only,  that  is  made  the  essential  of  the  crown. 
And  seeing  they  are  so  express,  we  must  be  plain ;  for 
otherwise,  it  is  to  deny  our  testimony,  and  consent  to  his- 
robbery."  From  these  words  it  is  evident,  firsts  that  Mr. 
Cargill  was  no  Secedet\  or  of  their  mind,  in  this  particular  ;. 
and  second^  that,  at  the  time,  there  were  some  who  did  cheat 
and  impose  upon  their  own  consciences,  by  distinguishing 
(where  there  was  no  room  for  distinction)  between  the  king's 
civil  and  ecclesiastical  authority — which  distinction  was  con- 


[122] 

demned  and  testified  against  by  all  who  were  truly  faithful 
to  Christ  and  their  own  consciences,  and  tender  of  his  honor 
and  glory,  by  their  unanimous  rejection  of  that  antichristian 
and  unlawful  power;  and  that  when  they  had  much  more 
reason  and  temptation  to  fly  to  such  a  subterfuge  for  their 
safety,  than  Seceders  now  have.  And,  thirds  from  these 
words  it  is  also  clear,  that  Mr.  Cargili  and  that  poor,  dis- 
tressed and  persecuted  people  that  adhered  to  him,  rejected 
and  disclaimed  the  then  authority,  not  so  much  be- 
cause of  their  tyranny  and  maladministrations,  as  on  account 
of  the  unlawfulness  and  wickedness  of  the  constitution  itself 
(which  was  the  i>rime  original  and  spring  of  all  the  wicked- 
ness in  the  administration),  namely,  because  the  king  arro- 
gantly and  sacrilegiously  assumed  to  himself  that  power, 
which  was  the  sole  and  glorious  prerogative  of  Jesus  Christ. 
And  as  to  the  difference  that  Seceders  make  between  that  and 
the  present  time  (since  the  revolution),  it  is  certain,  that 
whatever  greater  degree  of  absolute  supremacy  was  then 
assumed  by  Charles  II,  it  does  not  vary  the  kind  of  that 
claimed,  or  rather  conferred  on  and  exercised,  by  the  supreme 
powers,  since  the  revolution  (for  rnajus  et  minus  non  variant 
speciem)^  nor  acquit  them  of  the  guilt  of  robbing  the  Son  of 
God,  Jesus  Christ,  of  his  incommunicable  prerogative  and 
suprema(?y  in  and  over  his  church,  as  the  only  khig  and  head 
thereof,  ^or  will  the  difference  of  times,  while  the  consti- 
tution remains  the  same,  while  God  remains  the  same,  and 
truth  and  duty  remain  the  same,  nor  yet  any  distinction  that 
can  be  made,  tree  the  conscience  of  the  acknowledger,  more 
now  than  then,  from  being  a  partaker  (art  and  part)  with 
the  civil  power,  in  this  sacrilegious  robber}^  Fsal.  1,  18 : 
'■'-  When  thou  sawest  a  thief,  then  thou  consentedst  with 
him,"  &c. 

But  passing  this:  seeing  the  above  mentioned  reasons, 
which  Seceders  allege  why  they*cannot  swear  allegiance  to 
the  present  government,  which  they  assert  is  lawful  and 
scriptural,  cannot  be  sustained,  some  others  must  be  sought 
for  them:  and  they  may  be  either,  because  they  judge  alle- 
giance itself  unlawful ;  or  rather,  because  then  they  would  be 
bound  by  oath  to  continue  faithful  to  this  government  in 
all  changes  that  can  happen.  Whereas  now,  they  are  free, 
and  equally  ready,  in  a  full  consistency  with  their  princi- 
ples, to  profess  their  subjection  to  another,  were  it  even  a 
popish  pretender.  For  according,  to  then-i,  an  infidel  or 
pai)ist  may  have  a  just  and  lawful  authority  over  us,  not- 
withstanding all,  both  the  reformation  and  revolution  laws, 
to  the  contrary.     If,  therefore,  the  legislature  would,  in  the 


[123] 

oaths  of  allegiance,  insert  this  limitation,  viz  :  so  long  as  the 
body  politic  is  pleased  to  acknowledge  the  supreme  magis- 
trate, they  would  lind  it  easier  to  come  over  their  other 
pretended  and  inconsistent  ditiiculties.  For  the  truth  is, 
they  cannot,  in  a  consistency  with  their  antigovernment 
scheme,  and  with  safe  consciences,  swear  to  any  government, 
but  with  such  limitation,  in  regard  they  cannot  be  sure,  but 
he  that  is  now  owned  by  civil  society  may  be  rejected,  and 
another  set  up,  who  must  be  acknowledged.  So  they  would 
be  brought  into  an  inextricable  dilemma ;  either  they  must 
own  them  both  to  be  God's  ordinance,  which  is  absurd;  or 
then  be  perjured,  by  rejecting  him  to  whohi  they  had  sworn  ; 
or  then  incur  damnation,  by  refusing  obedience  to  him,  who 
is  set  up  by  the  body  politic.  Such  is  the  labyrinth  of  confu- 
sion and  contradiction  this  anarchical  system  leads  into  ;  a 
system  that  cancels  all  constitutions  by  God  and  men  anent 
civil  government. 

8.  This  antigovernment  Seceding  principle,  destructive  of 
said  distinction  between  the  providential  and  preceptive  will 
of  God,  is  both  contrary  to,  and  confuted  by  many  approven 
scriptural  examples ;  in  which  the  Spirit  of  God  testifies, 
that  the  actual  possession  of  the  throne,  under  the  favor  of 
providence,  and  by  the  consent  of  a  majority  of  a  nation, 
may  be  in  one,  while  the  moral  power  and  right  of  govern- 
ment is  in  another.  The  word  of  God  acknowledges  David 
the  rightful  sovereign  over  all  Israel^  for  the  space  of  forty 
years  (1  Kings,  ii,  11 ;  1  Chron.  xxix,  26,  27);  seven  of  these 
he  is  said  to  have  reigned  in  Hebron^  and  thirty-three  in 
Jerusalem.  During  the  lirst  seven  years  of  his  reign  at 
Hebron^  there  is  a  positive  confinement  of  his  actual  rule  to 
the  tribe  of  Judah  only ;  2  Sam.  v,  5.  And  at  the  same  time, 
Ishbosheth  is  said  to  be  made  king  over  all  Israel^  and  to  have 
reigned  two  years.  In  agreeableness  to  Seceding  principles, 
there  is  no  reconciling  these  different  texts.  According  to 
their  scheme,  David  can  with  no  propriety  be  said  to  have 
reigned  forty  years  over  all  Israel.,  seeing  seven  of  the  years 
were  elapsed  before  he  was  actually  acknowledged  by  all 
Israel.,  before  providence  put  him  in  the  actual  possession  of 
all  that  extensive  power.  There  is  another  known  example, 
applicable  to  the  present  purpose,  in  the  instance  of  David,., 
during  the  rebellion  of  his  unnatural  son  Absalom.  Accord- 
ing to  the  sacred  story,  2  Sam.  chap,  xv,  xvi,  xvii,  xviii,  xix, 
it  appears,  that  he  was  wholly  ejected,  both  out  of  the  hearts 
and  territories  of  Israel^  and  not  only  the  throne,  but  the 
will  and  consent  of  the  people  given  up  to  Absalom.  But 
was  David  therefore  divested  of  his  riofht  and  title  ?    Thouo;h 


[124] 

it  is  most  contrary  to  scripture  to  suppose  it ;  yet,  according 
to  Seceders^  seeing   Absalom,  was    king,  by  possession  of  the 
throne,  and  had  not  only  the  power  providentially  put  into 
his  hand,  but   had    it  also  by  the  consent  of  the  people ;  it 
necessarily  follows  that  Absalom^  being  a  providential  magis- 
trate, his  office   and   authority  did  equally  arise  from,  and 
agree  to  the  preceptive  will  of  God,  and  subjection  and  obe- 
dience,  for   conscience  sake,  was  equally  due  to  him,  as  to 
David,  by  the  Israelitish  tribes.     And  so  it  was  a  damnable 
sin  in  David  to  light  against  him,  as  it  could  be  no  less  than 
a  resisting  the  ordinance  of  God.     The  same  may  be  said  with 
respect  to  that  other  revolt,  b}^  the  instigation,  and  under  the 
conduct  of  Sheba  ;  2  Sam.  chap.  xx.     But  although,  accord- 
ing to  Seceders,  he  must  also  have  been  their  lawful  magis- 
trate, the  Spirit  of  God  discovers  the  reverse,  still  acknow- 
ledging the  right  of  government  in  all  these  changes  to  be  in 
David.    Another  example  is  in  the  case  of  Solomon,  who  was 
ordained  or  designed  by  God  expressly  for  the  kingdom  of  Is- 
rael.   Adonijah  had  obtained  the  ascendauc}^,  both  in  respect  of 
actual    possession,  and   the  inclinations  and  consent  of  the 
majority  of  the  nation  ;  the  consent  was  general;  1  Kings,  i, 
5,  7,  9,  11,  18,  25,  and  ii,  15.     He  had  all  to  plead  for  him- 
self, which  Seceders  make  essential  to  the  constitution  of  a 
lawful  king.     He  had  got  to  the  throne  by  providence,  and 
had  full  admission  and  possession,  by  the  inclinations  of  the 
people.     If  then  there  is  no  distinction  to  be  made  of  those 
who  are  acknowledged  by  civil   society,  into  such  as  are  so 
by  the  preceptive  will  of  God,  and  such  as   are  so  by  his 
providential  will  only — then  Solomon  had  no  right  nor  title 
to  the  crown;  and  the  enterprise  of  David  and  Nathan,  &c., 
of  setting  him  on  the  throne,  was  utterly  unlawful.     Both 
they  and  Solomon  ought  to  have  acquiesced  in  the  duty  of 
subjection  to  Adonijah,  as  being  the  ordinance  of  God.     But 
this  would  have  been  opposite  to  the  express  direction  of  the 
Lord,  appointing  the  kingdom  to  Solomon,  "  It  was  his  from 
the  Lord,"  as  Adonijah  himself  confessed.     To  the  same  pur- 
pose might   be   adduced,  the   instance  of  Joash,  the  son  of 
Ahaziah,  who  was  king  de  jure,  even  when  Athaliah  had  not 
only  the  countenance  of    providence,  but  the  consent  of  the 
people,  in  the  possession  of  the  kingdom  ;  2  Chron.  xxii,  10, 
12.     Again,  the  practice   of  nations,  in  owning   those  for 
their  lawful  sovereigns,  who,  by  providence,  were  put  from 
the  actual   exercise  of  their  rule  and  authority,  contributes 
to  confute   this   absurd    notion.     Thus,  the  people  of  Israel, 
who  had  risen  up  for  Absalom,  do  even,  when  David  was  out 
of    the   land,  own    him  for    their   king.     So,   during    the 


[125] 

Babylonish  captivity,  there  are  several  persons  noted  as 
princes  of  Judah^  whom  the  people  owned,  as  having  the 
right  of  government  over  them.  With  a  variety  of  other 
instances,  all  discovering,  in  opposition  to  their  anarchical 
system,  that  it  is  not  by  the  dispensations  of  providence,  that 
the  right  and  title  of  the  lawful  magistrate  is  to  be  deter- 
mined. Moreover,  as  the  Associate  Presbytery  have  so 
barefacedly  belied  the  scriptures  of  truth,  as  to  assert  that 
there  cannot  be  so  much  as  an  instance  found  in  all  the 
history  of  the  Old  Testament,  of  any  civil  members  refusing, 
either  by  word  or  deed,  an  acknowledgment  of,  or  subjection 
unto  the  authority  of  anj^  magistrate  actually  in  office,  by 
the  will  of  the  civil  body :  besides  what  have  been  already 
adduced,  take  these  few  following  examples  of  many.  After 
that  Saul^  by  his  disobedience  to  the  commandment  of  the 
Lord,  had  forfeited  his  title  to  the  kingdom,  he  was  no  more 
honored  as  king,  by  Samuel^  the  prophet ;  but,  on  the  con- 
trary, he  openly  testified  to  his  face,  that  the  Lord  had  re- 
jected him  from  being  king ;  1  Sam.  xv,  26-35.  Though 
he  mourned  over  him  as  one  rejected,  yet  he  no  more  acknow- 
ledged him  as  clothed  with  the  authority  as  a  lawful  king  ; 
nay,  the  Lord  having  rejected  him,  reproves  his  prophet  for 
mourning  for  him,  1  Sam.  xvi,  1.  From  which,  and  the 
command  he  received  to  anoint  Davidm  his  stead,  and  that 
even  while  the  civil  society  did  acknowledge,  and  w^as  sub- 
ject unto  Said^  it  appears,  that  the  throne  of  Israel  was 
then  regarded,  both  by  the  Lord  and  his  prophet,  as  vacant, 
until  David  was  anointed  ;  from  which  time,  in  the  eye  of  the 
divine  law,  he  w^as  the  rightful  king,  and  ought  in  conse- 
quence of  the  public  intimation  made  by  the  prophet  oi  SauVs 
rejection,  to  have  been  acknowledged  as  the  Lord's  Anointed 
by  the  whole  kingdom  of  Israel.  In  agreeableness  whereto, 
the  scripture  informs,  that  not  only  David  in  expectation  of 
the  Lord's  promise,  resisted  Saul  as  an  unjust  usurper,  but 
many  among  the  tribes  of  Israel^  whom  the  Spirit  of  God 
honorably  mentions,  rejected  the  government  of  Said.,  and 
joined  themselves  to  him  that  was  really  anointed  of  the 
Lord;  1  Chron.  xii,  1-23.  iSTow,  if  the  Lord  did  command, 
under  pain  of  damnation,  to  give  hwal  obedience  to  all  in  the 
place  of  supreme  authority,  however  wicked,  while  acknow- 
leged  by  the  body  politic,  he  would  not  reject  such,  nor  com- 
mand to  set  up  others  in  their  room,  nor  approve  of  those  who 
disowned  and  resivSted  them.  But  all  this  is  done  in  this 
instance,  which  of  itself,  is  sufficient  to  overthrow  their 
scheme.  Another  instance  is  in  2  Chron.  xi,  13, 16,  where 
the  authority  of  Jeroboam  is  rejected  and  cast  off,  even  when 


[126  J 

acknowledged  and  submitted  to  by  the  nation  of  Israel^  by 
the  priests  and  Levites^  and  after  them,  by  all  such  as  did  set 
their  hearts  to  seek  the  Lord  God  of  /^rae/,  through  all  the 
ten  tribes;  and  this,  because  of  his  abominable  wickedness. 
Whereby  it  appears  a  commendable  duty  to  refuse  the  law- 
fulness of  the  authority  of  wicked  occupants,  though 
acknowledged  by  the  majority  of  a  nation.  A  similar  ex- 
ample there  is  in  the  reign  of  Baaslia,  who  could  not  by  all 
his  vigilance  prevent  many  from  casting  off  his  government ; 
2  Chron.  xv,  9.  Again,  there  is  an  express  example  of 
Elisha's  disowning  the  king  of  Israel^  even  when  the  civil 
society  owned  him;  2  Kings,  iii,  14,  15.  He  did  not  regu- 
late his  conduct  by  providence,  and  the  will  of  the  people, 
but,  in  opposition  to  both,  refused  him  that  honor  that  is  due 
to  all  that  are  really  kings.  To  these  may  be  added  that 
notable  example  of  Libnah,  a  city  of  the  priests,  who  could 
not  but  have  knowledge  by  the  law  of  their  God  what  was 
their  duty ;  2  Chron.  xxi,  10.  Here  is  an  instance  of  a 
people's  casting  oft*  allegiance  to  a  king,  properly  because  of 
his  apostasy  and  intolerable  wickedness,  whereby  they  bore 
testimony  against  him,  and  discovered  what  was  the  duty 
of  the  whole  nation,  on  account  of  his  apostasy  from  the 
Lord.  Their  so  doing  was  a  most  positive,  actual  and  ex- 
press condemnation,  both  of  Jehoram  for  his  wickedness,  and 
of  the  people  for  concurring,  joining  with  him,  and  strength- 
ening his  hands  in  it  (even  as  Noah  by  his  faith  and  obe- 
dience is  said  to  have  condemned  the  antediluvian  world ; 
Heb.  xi,  7.)  And  this  their  conduct  and  testimony  the  Spirit 
of  God  justifies,  and  records  to  their  honor.  These  few  of 
man}^  that  might  be  adduced,  declare  the  impudence,  as 
well  as  fallacy  and  imposture  of  Seceders  in  this  matter,  and 
also  justify  the  principles  which  they  maliciously  nick- 
name the  anti-government  scheme ;  and  that  for  no  other 
reason,  but  because  it  establishes  the  ordinance  of  magis- 
tracy among  a  people  favored  by  God  with  divine  revelation, 
upon  his  preceptive  will,  in  opposition  to  their  anarchical 
notions  of  setting  it  wholly  upon  the  tottering  basis  of  the 
corru})t  will  of  man.  And,  to  conclude  this  particular,  how 
ridiculously  absurd  is  it  in  them  to  insinuate,  that,  in  the  ex- 
amples above,  or  others  to  be  found  in  sacred  history,  those 
persons  did,  notwithstanding  their  own  practice  in  rejecting 
the  authority  of  wicked  rulers,  still  view  it  as  the  duty  of  the 
rest  of  the  nation,  to  acknowledge  them?  This  is  pure 
jargon  and  nonsense,  contrary  both  to  reason  and  religion. 
By  what  law  could  the  opposite  practices  of  those  that  dis- 
owned, and  those  that  still  continued  to  own  the  authority 


[127  J 

of  unlawful  rulers,  be  justified?  It  could  not  by  the  divine 
law,  which  never  condemns  that  as  sin  in  one,  which  it  ap- 
proves as  duty  in  others  in  the  same  circumstances.  Seeino- 
therefore  these,  in  the  instances  above,  are  justified,  the 
practice  of  those  who  continued  to  acknowledge  the  lawfulness 
of  these  wicked  rulers,  must  be  regarded  as  condemned, 
both  by  the  divine  law,  and  also  by  the  practices  of  the 
above  persons,  which  do  all  jointly  concur  in  witnessincr,  that 
they  viewed  it  the  duty  of  all  the  rest  of  the  nation,  to  have 
done  as  they  did.  And  from  the  wdiole,  it  appears  a  com- 
mendable duty  for  the  Lord's  people  to  disown  the  rio-ht  and 
lawfulness  of  rulers  set  up  in  contradiction  to  the  divine  law. 
9.  The  iniquity  of  attempting  to  destroy  the  necessary 
distinction  between  the  providential  and  preceptive  will  of 
God  in  the  matter  of  magistracy,  appears  from  God's  express 
disallowance  of  some  whom  providence  had  actually  exalted 
to  the  supreme  command  over  a  people ;  Ezek,  xxi,  27  :  "I 
will  overturn,  &c."  Although  this  may  have  an  ultimate 
respect  to  Christ,  yet  it  has  also  a  reference  to  the  rio-htful 
governors  of  Judah^  when  dispossessed  of  their  right  by  the 
providential  will  of  God.  And  here  the  Lord  threatens  the 
execution  of  his  judgments  upon  the  unjust  possessor.  See 
also  Amos  vi,  13:  Hab.  ii,  5,  6;  Nah.  iii,  4,  5;  and  Matth. 
xxvi,  52.  By  all  which  it  appears,  that  the  supreme  law- 
giver states  a  real  difterence  between  those  who  are  only 
exalted  by  the  providential  will  of  God,  and  not  authorized 
by  his  preceptive  will ;  and  therefore  it  is  impossible  that  the 
ofifice  and  authority  of  them  both  can  equally  arise  from,  and 
agree  to  the  precept.  Again,  in  ^05.  viii,4,  "They  have 
set  up  kings,  but  not  by  me ;  they  have  made  princes,  and  I 
knew  it  not,"  is  this  distinction  showed,  as  with  the 
brightness  of  a  sun-beam,  so  that  he  that  runs  may  read  it. 
The  Lord  by  his  prophet  here  charges  this  people  with  horrid 
apostasy,  in  changing  both  the  ordinances  of  the  magistracy 
and  ministry,  particularly,  although  the  Lord  commanded,  if 
they  would  set  up  kings,  they  should  set  up  none  but  whom 
he  chose ;  Deut.  xvii,  15.  Yet  they  had  no  regard  to  his 
law.  This  charge  seems  to  have  respect  to  the  civil  consti- 
tution among  the  ten  tribes  after  their  revolt  from  the  house 
of  David ;  not  simply  charging  their  revolt  on  them,  but 
that  after  their  secession,  they  did  not  consult  God,  nor  act 
according  to  his  precept,  in  their  setting  up  of  kings.  As 
nothing  can  happen  in  the  world,  but  by  the  course  of  provi- 
dence ;  and  as  all  things  are  known  unto  God,  in  respect  of 
his  omniscience,  the  text  cannot  respect  either  of  these.  The 
true  import  of  the  charge   then  is,  they  have  set  up  kings, 


[128] 

but  not  according  to  the  law  and  preceptive  will  of  God  ; 
and  therefore  he  neither  did  nor  would  approve  either  them 
or  their  kings.  Hence  the  prophet  charges  this  as  one  cause 
of  their  national  destruction.  Here  then  it  is  undeniably 
evident  that  God  himself  establishes  that  distinction  pleaded 
for  ;  and  it  is  therefore  most  wicked  to  assert,  as  Seceders  do, 
that  it  is  altogether  groundless  and  absurd.  Again,  this  text 
discovers,  that  all  kings  that  are  set  up  and  acknowledged  by 
civil  society,  are  not  agreeable  to  the  preceptive  will  of  God, 
or,  as  such,  approven  by  him,  as  they  have  falsely 
asserted:  for  here  the  Lord  declares,  that  Israel  had 
set  up  kings  that  were  not  agreeable  to  his  precept:  and 
the  charge  respects  their  authority,  the  very  deed  of  constitu- 
tion. To  say  then,  that  all  providential  magistrates  are  also 
preceptive,  is  directly  to  give  the  God  of  truth  the  lie.  More- 
over, this  plainly  intimates,  that  all  such  providential  magis- 
trates as  are  not  set  up  in  agreeableness  to  the  precept,  are  dis- 
allowed and  condemned  by  God,  and  therefore  God  commands 
to  put  away  the  carcasses  of  such  kings,  as,  because  of  the 
blind  consent  of  civil  society,  were  little  better  than  adored 
by  the  people,  Ezek.  xliii,  9,  ''that  he  might  dwell  in  the 
midst  of  them  forever ;"  and  therefore  he  declares  it  the  sin, 
and  so  the  cause  of  the  people's  ruin,  as  in  the  above  text : 
and  also  in  Hos.  v,  11,  "  jEphraim  is  oppressed  ;"  because  he 
willingly  walked  after  the  commandment,  deliberately  and 
implicitly  followed  every  wicked  ruler  set  up  by  civil  society. 
It  is  but  a  perverting  and  abusing  the  above  text,  to  plead 
that  it  is  only  a  condemnation  of  Israel,  for  not  consulting 
the  Lord  in  making  choice  of  their  kings,  but  no  condemna- 
tion of  them  for  setting  them  up,  and  acknowledging  them, 
in  contradiction  to  the  Lord's  choice,  as  plainly  laid  before 
them  in  his  preceptive  will.  And  it  is  very  contradictor^^, 
to  acknowledge  it  a  sin,  not  to  consult  God,  and  yet  to  assert 
that  it  is  a  matter  of  inditfereiice  as  to  the  validity  of  their 
office,  whether  his  counsel  be  followed  or  not,  which  it  must 
be,  if,  as  their  principle  bears,  the  being  of  the  magistrate's 
office  and  authority  is  equally  good  and  valid,  when  con- 
trary, as  when  agreeable  to  the  commanding  will  of  God. 
But  if,  as  is  granted,  it  be  a  sin  not  to  consult  God  in  the 
choice  of  magistrates,  it  must  needs  be  a  great  aggravation 
thereof,  after  consulting  him,  to  reject  and  contemn  his 
counsel,  and  openly  contradict  his  positive  command,  by 
constituting  kings  in  opposition  to  his  declared  will,  which 
is  evidently  the  sin  charged  upon  Israel,  and  the  reason  why 
he  disclaims  all  such  ;  and  therefore,  according  to  that  known 
and  apx)roven  rule,  that  wherever  any  sin  is  forbidden  and 


[129  J 

condemned  in  scripture,  there  the  contrary  duty  is  com- 
manded and  commended  ;  it  follows,  that  the  setting  up  of 
rulers,  in  opposition  to  the  express  command  of  God,  being 
here  condemned,  the  contrary  duty  is  commended,  namely,  a 
disowning  of  all  such  rulers ;  for,  if  it  be  a  sin  to  set  up 
rulers,  and  not  by  God,  it  must  also  be  a  sin  to  acknowledge 
them  when  so  set  up,  in  regard  it  is  a  continuing  in,  and  ap- 
proving of  the  sin  of  that  wicked  erection ;  although  such 
an  acknowledgment  may  indeed  be  agreeable  to  their  principle, 
which  gives  to  the  creature  a  prerogative  above  the  Creator. 
From  the  whole  it  may  already  appear,  what  reason  the 
presbytery  have  for  testifying  against  Seceders,  for  maintain- 
ing such  a  corrupt  doctrine  ;  a  doctrine,  which  they  very 
justly  acknowledge  (p.  87)  cannot  be  established,  but  by  the 
overthrow  of  this  distinction  between  the  providential  and 
preceptive  w^ill  of  God  ;  a  distinction,  that  as  they  shall  never 
be  able  to  overturn  by  all  their  impotent  and  impious  attacks  : 
so  it  will  to  all  ages  stand  as  a  strong  bulwark,  inviolably  de- 
fending the  truth  here  contended  for  by  the  presbytery. 

4.  The  presbytery  testify  against  this  anti-government 
principle  of  the  Secession,  as  being  contradictory  to,  and  in- 
consistent with  the  reformation  principles,  and  covenanted 
obligations,  whereby  these  nations,  in  agreeableness  to  the 
law  of  God,  bound  themselves  to  maintain  all  the  ordinances 
of  God  in  their  purity,  according  to  their  original  institution 
in  the  scriptures  of  truth.  The  Seceding  scheme  (as  has  been- 
noticed  formerly)  is,  that  whomsoever  the  bulk  of  the  nation, 
or  body  politic,  set  up,  and  providence  proves  auspicious  and 
favorable  to,  is  the  lawful  magistrate,  to  be  owned  and  sub- 
mitted to  for  conscience  sake.  The  inconsistency  of  which 
tenet  with  reformation  principles,  may  appear  from  viewing 
and  comparing  therewith  the  coronation  oath,  James  VI, 
pari.  1,  cap.  8,  where  it  is  ordained  as  a  condition  sine  qua 
non,  that  all  kings,  princes,  and  magistrates,  shall  at  their 
installment  solemnly  swear  to  maintain  the  true  religion. 
So  also  James  VI,  pari.  1,  cap.  9th,  which  ordains,  that  no 
person  may  be  a  judge  or  a  member  of  any  court  that  pro- 
fesses not  the  true  religion.  Also  Charles  /,  pari.  2,  sess.  2d, 
act  14,  it  is  ordained,  that  before  the  king  be  admitted  to  the 
exercise  of  his  royal  power,  he  shall  give  satisfaction  to  the 
kingdom  anent  the  security  of  religion ;  and  so  the  same 
parliament,  act  15th,  1649,  express  themselves  (referring  to 
the  coronation  oath  above  mentioned) :  "  The  estates  of  par- 
liament judging  it  necessary,  that  the  prince  and  people  be 
of  one  perfect  religion,  appoint,  that  all  kings  and  princes, 
who  shall  reign  or  bear  rule  within  this  realm,  shall  at  the 


[130] 

receipt  of  their  princely  authority,  solemnl}^  swear  to  observe 
in  their  own  persons,  and  to  preserve  the  religion,  as  it  is 
presently  et^tablished  and  professed.  And  they  ordain,  that 
before  the  king's  majesty  who  now  is,  or  any  of  his  successors, 
shall  be  admitted  to  the  exercise  of  his  royal  yiower,  he  shall, 
by  and  attour  the  foresaid  oath,  declare  by  his  solemn  oath, 
under  his  hand  and  seal,  his  allowance  of  the  National  Cov- 
enant, and  of  the  Solemn  League  and  Covenant,  and  obliga- 
tion to  prosecute  the  ends  thereof  in  his  station  and  calling  ; 
and  that  he  shall  consent,  and  agree  to  acts  of  parliament,  en- 
joining the  Solemn  League  and  Covenant,  and  fully  establish- 
ing Presbyterian  government,  the  Directory  for  worship, 
Confession  of  Faith,  and  Catechisms  approved  by  the  General 
Assembly  of  this  kirk,  and  parliament  of  this  kingdom — and 
that  he  shall  observe  these  in  his  own  practice  and  family, — 
and  shall  never  make  opposition  to  any  of  these,  or  endeavor 
any  change  thereof.  Likeas,  the  estates  of  parliament  dis- 
charge all  the  lieges  and  subjects  of  this  kingdom  to  procure 
or  receive  from  his  majesty  any  commissions  or  gifts  what- 
soever, until  his  majesty  shall  give  satisfaction,  as  said  is, 
under  the  pain  of  being  censured  in  their  persons  and  estates, 
as  the  parliament  shall  judge  fitting.  And  if  any  such  com- 
missions or  gifts  be  procured  or  received  by  any  of  the  sub- 
jects before  such  satisfaction,  the  parliament  declares  and  or- 
dains all  such  and  all  that  shall  follow  thereupon,  to  be  void 
and  null."  And  the  same  session,  act  26th,  it  is  in  short  or- 
dained, that  none  shall  bear  any  place  of  public  trust  in  the 
nation,  but  such  as  have  the  qualifications  God  requires  in 
his  word.  Thus,  in  the  prefatory  part  of  the  act,  they  say, 
"  The  estates  of  parliament  taking  into  consideration,  that 
the  Lord  our  God  requires  that  such  as  bear  charge  among 
his  people,  should  be  able  men,  fearing  God,  hating  covet- 
ousness,  and  dealing  truly  :  and  that  many  of  the  evils  of  sin 
and  punishment,  under  which  the  land  groans,  have  come  to 
pass,  l)ecause  hitherto  they  have  not  been  sufiiciently  provided 
and  cared  for,"  &c.  (And  afterward  in  the  statutory  part), 
"  Do  therefore  ordain,  that  all  such  as  shall  be  employed  in 
any  place  of  power  and  trust  in  this  kingdom,  shall  not  only 
be  able  men,  but  men  of  known  alfection  unto,  and  of  ap- 
proved fidelity  and  integrity  in  the  cause  of  God,  and  of  a 
blameless  christian  conversation,"  &c.  To  the  same  purpose, 
ae^  11th,  jKirl.  2d,  sess.  3d,  entitled  act  for  purging  the  army. 
See  also  the  coronation  oath  of  Scotland^  as  subscribed  by 
Charles  11^  at  Scoon.  1650.  All  which,  and  many  other 
fundamental  laws  of  the  like  nature, made  in  time  of  reform- 
ation, show  the  principles  of  our  reformers  to  have  been 


[131] 

quite  ditterent  from  tlioseof*&fc/fr5  a nent  civil  government: 
and  that  to  constitute  lawful  magistrates,  they  must  of  neces- 
sity have  scriptural  and  covenant  qualifications,  besides  the 
consent  of  the  people.  With  wliat  face  then  can  they  pre- 
tend to  have  adopted  a  testimony  for  reformation  principles, 
and  to  be  of  the  same  princi[)les  with  our  late  reformers  ?  The 
vanity  of  this  pretense  will  further  appear,  by  comparing 
their  principles  with  the  Solemn  League  and  Covenant,  with 
every  article  of  which  they  are  inconsistent.  They  profess 
the  moral  obligation  of  the  covenants,  and  yet  at  the  same 
time  maintain  the  lawfulness  of  every  providential  govern- 
ment, wdiether  popish  or  prelatic,  if  set  up  by  tiie  body  pol- 
itic. But  how  opposite  this  to  thajirst  article,  obliging  con- 
stantly to  endeavor  the  preservation  of  the  reformed  religion  ? 
Can  it  be  consistent  therewith,  to  commit  the  government  of 
the  nations  to  a  sworn  enemy  to  the  reformation  ?  or,  with 
that  sincerity  w^hich  becomes  the  professors  of  Christ,  to 
plead  the  lawfulness  of  an  authority  raised  upon  the  over- 
throw of  the  reformed  religion?  No  less  opposite  is  it  to 
the  second  article,  which  obliges,  and  that  without  respect  of 
persons,  to  endeavor  the  extirpation  of  popery,  prelacy — to 
maintain  and  plead  for  the  lawfulness  of  that  which  estab- 
lishes or  supports  prelacy  or  poperj^  in  the  nations.  This  ap- 
pears rather  like  a  sincere  endeavor  in  them  to  promote 
whatever  is  contrary  to  sound  doctrine,  and  the  power  of 
true  godliness  ;  and  that,  because  an  apostate  people  approves 
thereof,  contrary  to  Uxod.  xxiii,  2:  ''  Thou  shalt  not  follow 
a  multitude  to  do  evil."  Again,  the  third  article  binds  to 
preserve  the  rights  of  parliaments,  and  the  liberties  of  the 
kingdoms,  and  the  king's  authority  in  the  preservation  and 
defense  of  the  true  religion.  But  how  inconsistent  is  it  there- 
with, to  own  and  defend  an  authority  that  in  its  constitution 
and  habitual  series  of  administration,  is  destructive  of  all 
these  precious  and  valuable  interests?  It  is  full  of  contra- 
diction, and  a  mocking  both  of  God  and  the  world,  to  pre- 
tend to  own  and  defend  the  destroyers  of  the  true  religion, 
in  the  defense  of  religion,  as  Seceders  do  in  the  r  mock  ac- 
knowledgment of  such  as  are  sworn  to  maintain  prelacy,  in 
opposition  to  the  reformed  religion.  The  contradictoriness 
of  this  principle  of  theirs  to  the  fourth  article,  needs  no 
illustration.  Again,  the  owning  of  an  authority,  which  is 
reared  up  and  stands  upon  the  footing  of  the  destruction  of 
the  covenanted  union,  and  uniformity  of  the  nations  in 
religion  can  never  be  consistent  with  the  Jifth  article,  which 
binds,  to  an  endeavoring,  that  these  kingdoms  may  remain 
conjoined  in  that  firm  covenanted  union  to  all  posterity.    In 


[132] 

like  manner,  as  the  sixth  article  obliges  to  a  defending  of  all 
that  enter  into  that  League  and  Covenant,  and  never  to 
suiter  ourselves  to  be  divided,  and  make  defection  to  the 
contrary  part ;  it  must  be  a  manifest  contradiction  thereto, 
not  only  to  defend  such  as  are  enemies  to  that  covenant,  but 
even  in  their  opposition  thereto.  And  it  is  a  making  de- 
fection to  the  contrary  part,  and  from  that  cause  and  coven- 
ant with  a  witness,  to  plead  the  lawfulness  of  the  national 
constitution,  which  is  established  upon  the  ruins  of  a  coven- 
anted work  of  reformation,  as  Seceders  do  ;  whose  principle 
and  practice,  in  opposition  to  w^hat  is  professed  in  the  con- 
clusion of  the  covenant,  as  well  as  what  was  the  very  design 
of  entering  into  it,  is,  instead  of  going  before  others,  in  the 
example  of  a  real  reformation,  a  corrupting  of  the  nations 
more  and  more,  and  going  before  them  in  the  example  of  a 
real  apostasy  and  defection  from  the  reformation,  so  solemnly 
sworn  to  be  maintained  in  this  covenant ;  and  a  teaching  of 
them  to  appoint  themselves  a  captain,  to  return  to  their 
antichristian  bondage. 

Upon  the  whole,  as  the  Presbytery  ought  to  testify  against 
this  new  scheme  of  principles,  respecting  the  ordinance  of 
magistracy ;  they  therefore,  upon  all  the  grounds  formerly 
laid  dowMi,  did  and  hereby  do  declare,  testify  against,  and 
condemn  the  same,  as  what  is,  Indeed,  a  new  and  dangerous 
principle,  truly  anti-government,  introductory  of  anarchy 
and  confusion,  of  apostasy  and  defection  from  the  covenanted 
work  of  reformation,  the  principles  by  which  it  was  carried 
on  and  maintained,  and  acts  and  laws,  by  wdiich  it  was  fenced 
and  established  ;  and  what  is  flatly  opposite  to,  and  condemned 
by  the  word  of  divine  revelation,  in  many  express  and  pos- 
itive precepts,  and  approven  examples,  agreeable  thereto,  as 
well  as  by  our  solemn  national  covenants,  founded  upon,  and 
agreeable  to  the  said  w^ord  of  divine  revelation.  And  iinally, 
let  this  be  further  observed,  that  as  it  was  a  beautiful  branch 
of  our  glorious  reformation,  that  the  civil  government  of  this 
nation  was  modeled  agreeable  to  the  word  of  God ;  and  that 
the  right  of  regal  government  was  constituted,  bounded  and 
fixed  by  an  unalterable  law,  consonant  to  the  word  of  God, 
and  sworn  to  be  inviolably  preserved  both  by  king  and 
people:  so  the  Associate  Brethren^  by  their  doctrine  on  this 
head,  which  is  inconsistent  with  our  uncontrovertcd  estab- 
lishment, and  fundamental  laws,  excluding  from  the  throne 
all  papists  and  prelatists,  have  counteracted  a  most  import- 
ant point  of  the  covenanted  reformation,  and  opened  a  wide 
door  to  Jacobitism.  For,  if  every  one  is  bound  to  acknow- 
ledge implicitly  any  government,  in  fact,  that  prevails :  then. 


[133] 

if  a  party  in  these  nations  should  rise  up,  and  set  a  popish 
pretender  on  the  throne,  according  to  their  doctrine,  all 
should  he  ohliged  to  suhject  to  him ;  and  it  would  be  sinful 
to  impugn  the  lawfulness  of  his  authority,  although  that,  by 
being  popish,  he  is  destitute  of  the  essential  qualifications 
required  of  a  king,  not  only  by  the  word  of  God,  but  by  the 
national  constitution  and  laws,  in  order  to  make  him  a  law- 
ful sovereign  to  these  nations. 

2.  The  presbytery  testify  against  the  Associate  Presbytery, 
now  called  Synod,  for  their  wronging,  perverting  and  misap- 
plying the  blessed  scriptures  of  truth  in  many  texts,  in  order 
to  (support  their  erroneous  tenet :  namely,  that  the  word  of 
God  requires  no  qualilications  as  essential  to  the  being  of 
a  lawful  christian  magistrate :  but  that  whosoever  are  set  up, 
and  while  they  continue  to  be  acknow^ledged  by  civil  society, 
are  lawful  magistrates,  though  destitute  of  scripture  qualili- 
cations, and  acting  in  a  manifest  opposition  to  the  revealed 
will  and  law  of  God. 

The  texts  of  scripture  used  by  them,  do  prove  this  gen- 
eral proposition,  viz :  That  it  is  the  duty  of  the  people  of 
God  to  obey  and  submit  to  lawful  rulers  in  their  lawful 
commands :  and  that  it  is  utterly  unlawful  and  sinful  to  op- 
pose such  lawful  authority.  But  none  of  these  texts  quoted 
by  them,  prove,  that  it  is  the  duty  of  the  people  of  God, 
blessed  with  the  knowledge  of  his  revealed  will,  to  submit 
to,  and  obey,  for  conscience  sake,  an  authority  that  is  sinful, 
and  opposite  to  the  revealed  will  of  God,  both  in  its  consti- 
tution and  general  course  of  administration.  N"or  do  they 
prove,  that  a  prelatical,  Erastian  or  popish  government,  is  a 
lawful  government,  either  expressly,  or  by  right  of  necessary 
consequence,  over  a  people,  wdio  either  do,  collectively  consid- 
ered as  a  church  and  nation,  or  are  bound  to  profess  all  the 
parts  of  the  true  religion,  and  to  maintain  all  the  divine 
ordinances  in  their  purity :  nor  do  they  prove,  that  any  can 
be  lawful  rulers  over  these  christian  and  covenanted  nations, 
who  want  the  essential  qualifications  required  by  the  word 
of  God,  the  covenants,  and  fundamental  laws  of  the  king- 
doms :  or  that  it  is  sinful  in  the  people  of  God,  to  say  so 
much,  in  testifying  against  the  joint  and  national  apostasy 
from  God  and  the  purity  of  religion.     Particularly, 

The  first  text  they  adduce  is,  Prov.  xxiv,  21 :  ''  My  son, 
fear  thou  the  Lord  and  the  king,  and  meddle  not  with  them 
that  are  given  to  change."  It  ts  granted,  that  this  scripture 
enjoins  all  those  duties  that,  in  a  consistency  with  the  fear 
of  the  Lord,  a  people  owe  to  their  rightful  kings.  But  nothing 
can  be  more  absurd,  than  to  extend  the  command  to  all  that 


[134] 

bear  the  name  of  kings,  who  are  acknowledged  bj  a  nation 
as  kings,  and  while  they  do  so  own  them,  though  their  con- 
stitution should  be  most  antichristian.and  they  justly  charge- 
able with  un]!aralleled  evils  not  only  in  their  private  char- 
acter, but  in  their  }>ublic  conduct:  be  they  idolaters,  adult- 
erers, blasphemers,  sabbath-breakers,  murderers,  invadei-s, 
and  avowed  usuriiers  of  the  throne,  crown  and  scej)ter,  and 
incommunicable  prerogatives  of  Christ,  the  glorious  King  of 
Zion,  setting  themselves  in  the  temple  of  God,  and  exalting 
themselves  above  all  that  is  called  God,  by  dispensing  with 
his  laws,  and,  in  place  thereof,  substituting  their  own 
wicked  laws,  whereby  they  establish  iniquity,  and  enjoin, 
under  severe  penalties,  the  profanation  of  the  name,  day  and 
ordinances  of  tlie  Lord.  This  command  must  certainly  be 
understood  in  a  consistency  with  the  duty  and  character  of 
one  that  is  resolved  to  be  an  inhabitant  of  the  Lord's  holy 
hill,  Fsal.  XV,  4,  "In  whose  eyes  a  vile  person  is  contemned." 
It  must  be  consistent  with  the  fear  of  the  Lord,  which  can 
stand  very  well  with  a  fearing  and  honoring  all  who  are 
really  kings;  but  a  flat  contradiction  thereto,  to  fear  every 
vile  person,  because  it  is  the  will  of  civil  society  to  set  him 
up  in  the  character  of  king.  Till  therefore  Seceders  prove, 
either  that  kings  are  under  no  obligation  to  obey  the  law  of 
God  themselves,  and  so  not  liable  to  its  sanction  and  penalty, 
in  case  of  disobedience  ;  or  then,  that  the  favor  and  appro- 
bation of  civil  society  can  justify  a  dispensing  with  the  law 
of  God,  they  will  never  be  able  to  prove  from  this  or  any 
other  text,  that  such  as  are  guilty  of  any  crime  declared  cap- 
ital in  the  word  of  truth  have  a  right  and  title  to  that  fear, 
honor  and  obedience,  that  is  due  to  lawful  kings,  even  though 
they  are  acknowledged  by  civil  society.  And  so  this  text 
makes  nothing  for,  but  against  their  darling  tenet ;  and  their 
explication  thereof  is  evidently  a  wresting  of  scripture,  mak- 
ing it  speak  in  their  favor,  contrary  to  the  sco})e  and  mean- 
ing of  the  Holy  Sj)irit  therein.  And  their  invidious  insin- 
uation, that  all  who  differ  from  their  0])inion,  do  likewise 
depart  from  the  fear  of  the  Lord,  is  but  a  further  evidence  of 
their  abuse  of  scripture,  while  it  is  at  the  same  time  utterly 
false.  See  Mr.  Knox's  history,  p.  422, 1st  Book  of  Discipline^ 
cap,  10,  11. 

A  second  text  abused,  for  supporting  their  forementioned 
principle,  is  Eccles,  x,  4:  "If  the  spirit  of  the  ruler  rise  up 
against  thee,  leave  not  thy  place,  for  yielding  paciiieth  great 
offenses."  As  formerly,  so  liere  they  assert,  that  this  text 
refers  to  any  rulers  presently  acknowledged  by  the  civil  so- 
ciety, and  that  the  rising  of  the  ruler's  spirit  must  be  under- 


[135] 

stood  as  groundless,  and  so  sinful,  and  necessarily  compre- 
hends any  wrath  or  wrong  that  a  subject  may  meet  with 
unjustly  at  the  ruler's  hand,  upon  personal  or  religious 
accounts.  That  yet,  notwithstanding,  the  subject  (in  the  use 
of  lawful  endeavors  for  his  own  vindication)  must  continue 
in  subjection  and  obedience  to  the  ruler,  in  lawful  commands, 
while  the  civil  state  continues  to  acknowledge  him ;  and 
this,  as  the  only  habile  mean  of  convincing  the  ruler  of  his 
error,  and  preventing  further  evils. 

But,  as  the  reason  which  they  there  allege,  does  not  neces- 
sarily conclude  and  prove  this  rising  of  spirit  in  the  ruler  to 
be  sinful;  so  the  whole  of  their  application  and  gloss  built 
upon  it,  is  invalidated  ;  and,  moreover,  is  a  condemnation  of 
the  principles  and  practice  of  our  reformers,  and  sufferers  for 
the  cause  and  truths  of  Christ,  in  the  late  times,  when  they 
left  their  place  of  subjection,  and  took  up  arms  in  defense  of 
their  religion,  liberties  and  lives. 

Their  explication  is  also  self-inconsistent ;  for,  if  this  rising 
of  spirit  necessarily  comprehends  any  wrath  or  wrong,  on 
personal  or  religious  accounts,  then  there  must  be  a  yielding, 
or  keeping  the"^  place  of  subjection,  not  only  in  lawful  com- 
mands, but  in  all  matters,  whether  lawful  or  not ;  otherwise, 
this  yielding  cannot  be  supposed  to  answer  the  end  designed. 
For  though  a  subject  should  yield  in  all  other  particulars, 
yet,  unless  he  also  yield  in  that  particular,  on  which  the 
rising  of  the  ruler's  spirit  is  grounded,  his  yielding  cannot 
pacify  the- ruler's  wrath.  So  all  the  subjection,  they  contend, 
the  sufferers  gave,  particularly  in  the  beginning  of  the  late 
persecution,  to  the  then  rulers,  did  not,  nor  could,  pacify 
their  wrath,  because  they  would  not  give  up  w^ith  their  con- 
science and  all  religion,  which  was  the  very  foundation  of 
the  rising  of  his  spirit  against  them ;  though,  according  to 
their  explication  of  the  text,  this  w^as  what  they  should  have 
done,  and  so  have  pacified  the  ruler's  wrath.  It  is  but  a  mere 
shift  to  tell  the  world,  that  it  is  only  in  lawful  matters  they 
are  to  yield  ;  the  yielding  must  surely  correspond  to  the  ris- 
ing of  the  spirit  spoken  of.     But  with  such  deceitful  shifts 
are  they  forced  to  cover  over  a  doctrine,  which,  if  presented 
in  its  native  dress,  would  not  meet  with  such  ready  recept- 
ion.    But  in  opposition  to  their  strained  interpretation  of 
the  text,  the  ruler  must  be  understood  a  lawful  ruler,  who  is 
the  minister  of  God  for  good — one  who  has  not  only  moral 
abilities  for  government,  but  also  a  right  to  govern.     And 
as  a  subject  may  be  keeping  his  place  of  subjection  to  a  right- 
eous ruler,  and  yet  be  guilty,  in  his  private  or  public  char- 
acter, of  what  gives  just  offense,  and  occasions  the  ruler's 


[186] 

Spirit  justly,  and  so  not  sinfully,  to  rise  against  him — thus^ 
one  may  be  guilty  of  many  criminal  mismanagements  in  the 
dscharge  of  his  public  trust,  guilty  of  profaning  the  name  of 
God  or  his  day,  or  of  a  riot,  excessive  drinking,  &c.,  without 
having  any  thought  of  casting  oif  the  authority  of  his  ruler 
— so,  when  a  person  has  hereby  provoked  the  spirit  of  his 
ruler,  this  divine  precept  teaches  the  party  offending  not  to 
aggravate  his  offense,  by  attempting  (though  able)  to  make 
good  his  part,  or  rebel  against  his  sovereign,  but  to  yields 
acknowledge  his  guilt  and  trespass,  and  submit  to  such  pun- 
ishments as  the  lawful  ruler  shall  justly  inflict,  according  to 
the  degree  and  quality  of  the  offense ;  whereby  only,  the 
ruler  will  be  satisfied.  Agreeable  to  this,  is  that  parallel 
text,  JEccles.  viii,  2,  3 :  "I  counsel  thee  to  keep  the  king's 
commandment,  and  that  in  regard  of  the  oath  of  God:  Be 
not  hasty  to  go  out  of  his  sight ;  stand  not  in  an  evil  thing.'' 
On  the  whole,  it  must  be  a  great  abuse  of  Scripture,  to  wrest 
a  divine  precept,  which  directs  subjects  to  submit  to  such 
punishments  as  their  lawful  ruler  shall  justly  lay  them  under 
for  their  offenses,  to  the  support  of  this  antiscriptural  notion, 
viz:  that  every  wicked  person,  whom  the  majority  of  a 
nation  advances  to  the  supreme  rule,  is  the  minister  of  God, 
to  whom  obedience  is  due,  under  pain  of  eternal  damnation,, 
as  is  done  w^ith  this  text. 

A  ihvrd  scripture,  perverted  to  support  the  above  principle, 
is  Luke  xx,  25 :  "  Render  therefore  to  Ccesar  the  things 
which  be  C<TB.sar's,  and  unto  God  the  things  which  be  God's," 
From  this,  Seceders  imagine  strongly  to  fortify  their  cause. 
But,  from  a  just  view  of  the  text,  it  will  appear,  that  the 
answer  given  by  Christ  contains  no  acknowledgment  of 
Ccesar^s  title  to  tribute,  or  of  his  authority  as  lawful.  It  is 
beyond  doubt,  that  the  question  was  captious,  and  that  the 
design  of  the  Scribes  and  Pbarisees,  in  proposing  it  to  Christ, 
was  to  have  him  ensnared  in  his  words.  This  they  thought 
themselves  sure  of,  whether  he  should  answer  positively  or 
negatively.  For  if  positively,  and  so  recognize  and  acknow- 
ledge Ccesar  s  title,  then  they  would  have  occasion  to  accuse 
him  to  the  people,  as  an  enemy  to  the  laws,  liberty  and 
honor,  of  the  Jewish  nation.  This  is  evident  from  ver.  26 : 
''  And  they  could  not  take  hold  of  his  words  before  the 
people."  And  then,  if  he  should  deny  that  it  was  lawful, 
they  would  have  an  opportunity  or  pretense  of  delating  and 
delivering  him  to  the  Roman  governor,  as  an  enemy  to 
Ceesar.  They  seem,  however,  to  have  been  confident,  that 
he  who  taught  the  way  of  God  in  truth,  without  regard  to 
any,  would  never  inculcate  it  as  a  duty  for  them  to  give  tri- 


[137] 

bute  to  Ccesar,  subjection  to  whom,  as  their  lawful  governor, 
for  conscience  sake,  was  contrary  to  the  divine  law  given  to 
the  Jews,  respecting  their  magistrates  ;  and  if  so,  they  would 
not  miss  of  sufficient  accusation  against  him.  But  here  in- 
finite wisdom  shone  forth,  in  giving  such  an  answer  as  de- 
clared their  wisdom  to  be  but  folly,  and  at  once  disappointed 
all  their  malicious  hopes  ;  an  answer  which  left  Ccesars  claim 
unresolved,  as  to  any  positive  determination  whether  it  be- 
longed to  him  or  not.  The  question  is  in  direct  terms.  Our 
Lord  does  not  directly  answer  to  the  question,  in  the  terms 
j^roposed  by  the  wicked  spies.  He  neither  expressl^^  says  it 
is  lawful  or  unlawful  to  \)iiy  it,  but  gave  his  answer  in  such 
terms  as  they  could  not  from  it  form  an  accusation  against 
him,  either  to  the  people  or  to  the  governor.  He,  in  general, 
teaches  to  give  Ccesar  all  things  that,  by  the  law  of  God, 
were  due  to  him  ;  at  the  same  time  enjoining  them  that, 
under  pretense  of  giving  to  men  their  demands,  they  rob  not 
God  of  what  was  his  due,  namelj-,  a  conscientious  regard  to 
all  the  laws  he  had  given  them,  and  universal  obedience  to 
all  his  commands,  without  regard  to  persons  of  any  station. 
And  it  is  certain,  that  Coesar  was  a  proud,  aspiring,  idol- 
atrous and  bloody  usurper  (like  the  king  of  Babylon,  Hab.  ii, 
5,  for  which  causes  the  Lord  denounces  fearful  wrath  and 
judgments  against  him,  Hab.  ii,  7-14),  having  no  other  right 
to  the  most  part  of  his  dominions,  than  the  Lord's  provi- 
dential disposal,  which  sometimes  makes  "  the  tabernacles 
of  robbers  prosper ;  into  whose  hand  God  bringeth  abund- 
antly ;"  Job  xii,  6.  "  And  for  their  sins  gives  Jacob  to  the 
spoil,  and  Israel  to  the  robbers  ;"  Isa.  xlii,  24.  "And  giveth 
power  to  the  beast,  to  continue  forty  and  two  months,  and  to 
have  power  over  all  nations;"  Rev.  xiii,  5,  7.  So  that,  by 
looking  into  the  divine  law,  which  determines  every  one's 
due,  according  to  their  just  character,  and  of  which  they 
could  not  be  ignorant,  they  might  see  that  he  had  a  just 
title  to  all  that  was  due  to  an  usurper,  idolater  and  mur- 
derer. That  the  Jeivish  coin  did  bear  Ccesar  s  image,  could 
be  no  evidence  of  his  beino-  their  lawful  sovereiecn,  seeins:  it 

•  n  1  CI        '  CD 

is  most  common  for  the  greatest  usurpers  and  tyrants  to 
stamp  their  image  upon  the  coin  of  the  nations  they  tyran- 
nize over.  And  though  it  be  granted  that  the  Jews  had,  by 
this  time,  consented  to  Ccesar' s  usurpation,  yet  that  could  not 
legitimate  his  title,  nor  warrant  their  subjection  to  him  for 
conscience  sake,  seeing  they  could  not  consent  to  his  author- 
ity, but  in  express  contradiction  to  the  many  plain  and  pos- 
itive scripture  precepts,  given  by  God  unto  them,  as  has  been 
seen  above.     It  is,  therefore,  violence  done  to  the  text  (as 


[138] 

also  opposite  to  the  sentiments  of  some  eminent  divines  on 
the  place),  to  say  that  it  contains  a  command  to  pay  tribute 
to  Ccesar,  and  it  would  appear  from  Luke  xxiii,  2,  that  the 
Jews  themselv^es  did  not  understand  it  so.  It  may  be  further 
observed,  that  this,  is  not  the  only  instance  where  our  Lord, 
in  infinite  wisdom,  declined  to  give  direct  answers  to  the 
ensnaring  questions  of  his  malicious  enemies.  See  John  viii, 
3-12;  Matth.  xxi,  23-28;  John  xviii,  19-21,  Avhere  are 
questions  of  similar  nature,  proposed  with  the  same  hellish 
intention,  and  all  answered  by  him  in  like  manner.  In  each 
of  which,  Seceders  might,  on  as  good  ground  as  in  the  answer 
to  the  question  anent  tribute,  say  that  Christ  did  shift  and 
dissemble  the  truth.  But  the  least  insinuation  of  such  a 
charge  cannot  be  made  from  any  of  these  answers,  without 
the  greatest  blasphemy. 

A  fourth  text  used  by  them  for  maintaining  their  erroneous 
scheme,  is  Rom.  xiii,  1-8.  Without  animadverting  upon 
every  part  of  their  explication  of  this  place  of  holy  writ,  it 
is  sufficient  to  observe:  1.  That  the  power  here  spoken  of 
by  the  apostle,  is  not  a  fhysical^  but  a  moral  power ;  a  power 
that  is  lawful  and  warranted,  in  regard  of  matter,  person, 
title  or  investiture.  A  legitimacy  in  each  of  these  must  go 
to  the  making  of  a  moral  power  ;  and  an  illegitimacy  in  any 
of  these  is  an  dlegitimacy  in  the  very  being  and  constitution, 
and  so  a  nullity  to  the  power  as  moral,  a  making  it  of  no 
authority.  As  the  text  speaks  only  of  this  moral  power,  so 
it  excludes  every  unlawful  power  (see  Mr.  Gee  on  magistracy, 
on  this  text).  2.  That  the  heivg  of  God,  or  the  ordination  by 
God  here  spoke  of,  is  not  a  being  of  God  'providentially  only, 
but  such  a  being  of  God  as  contains  in  it  his  institution  and 
appointment,  by  the  warrant  of  his  law  and  precept ;  so  that 
the  magistrates  to  whom  the  apostle  enjoins  obedience,  are 
such  as  are  set  up  according  to  tlie  preceptive  ordination  and 
will  of  God,  as  is  evinced  not  only  by  the  author  referred  to 
above,  and  other  divines,  but  what  sufficiently  appears  from 
the  context,  where  the  subjection  enjoined,  and  resistance 
forbidden,  with  their  respective  reasons,  are  what  can  only 
be  spoken  with  respect  to  powers  ordained  by  the  preceptive 
will  of  God.  Again,  by  considering  the  office  and  duty  of 
the  powers,  and  the  end  of  their  ordination,  as  described,  ver. 
3, 4,  which  by  no  means  agree  to  any  but  those  moral  powers 
ordained  by  the  preceptive  will  of  God,  it  appears  a  manifest 
abuse  of  this  text,  to  ap[)ly  it  to  every  one  advanced  by  prov- 
idence to  the  place  of  supreme  rule,  not  only  without  any 
regard,  but  in  direct  opposition  to  the  preceptive  will  of  God. 
It  is   most  absurd  and  self-contradictory  in  professed  testi- 


[139] 

mony  bearers  for  a  covenanted  reformation,  to  apply  this  text 
in  a  way  of  pleading  the  lawfulness  of  an  Erastian,  anti- 
christian  constitution,  that  is  destitute  of  all  those  qualifica- 
tions already  mentioned  (and  always  included  in  the  scrip- 
tural definition  of  a  lawful  magistrate),  as  necessary  to  con- 
stitute a  moral  power,  viz:  in  regard  of  matter,  person,  title 
or  investiture,  &c.  But  of  the  power  which  they  so  zealously 
plead  for,  the  matter  is  unlawful,  being  Erastian,  partly 
civil,  partly  ecclesiastical,  by  the  united  constitution.  The 
person  invested  with  this  supreme  power,  is  one  who  is  de- 
clared incapable,  by  the  fundamental  laws  and  covenanted 
constitution  of  the  nations  ;  the  manner  of  investiture,  and 
terms  on  which  the  crown  is  held,  sinful — the  constitution 
being  in  an  immediate  opposition  to  the  unalterable  consti- 
tution of  the  kingdom  of  the  Messias^  and  founded  on  the 
destruction  of  the  covenanted  reformation.  And  it  may  be 
added,  that  it  is  unlawful,  as  to  the  exercise  and  application 
of  it,  which  has  been  all  along  in  opposition  to  all  true  reli- 
gion, and  a  grievous  oppression  of  the  church,  the  kingdom 
of  Christ,  in  the  liberties  thereof.  And  it  must  be  so ;  for 
the  tree  must  be  made  good,  before  the  fruit  can  be  such. 
By  all  which  it  appears,  there  is  a  nullity  in  the  power  as 
moral,  being  so  very  opposite  to  the  revealed  will  of  God. 
And  from  what  is  said,  it  is  obvious  that  this  scripture  gives 
no  countenance  to  their  corrupt  scheme,  but  furnishes  with 
strong  arguments  against  it. 

A  fifth  scripture  adduced  is  Titus  iii,  1 :  "  Put  them  in 
mind  to  be  subject  to  principalities  and  powers,"  &c.  As 
Seceders  apply  this  text  to  the  same  purpose,  and  explain  it  in 
the  same  manner,  as  they  have  done  those  others  above 
mentioned,  so  what  is  already  said  is  sufficient  to  discover 
the  deceit  of  their  use  and  explication  thereof  The  powers 
and  magistrates  the  apostle  requires  subjection  to,  are  only 
such  as  are  so  in  a  moral  sense  ;  none  but  such  are  accounted 
powers  and  magistrates  in  the  sense  of  the  text.  The  apostle 
must  mean  the  same  powers  here  he  describes  in  Rom.  xiii, 
1-3,  &c.,  otherwise  he  contradicts  himself,  which  must  not  be 
admitted ;  and  the  powers  he  there  speaks  of,  are  moral 
powers,  i.  e.,such  as  have  not  only  proper  abilities  for  govern- 
ment and  rule,  but  also  a  right  of  constitution,  impowering 
them  to  use  their  abilities  for  that  purpose.  How  can  one 
be  expected  or  said  to  be  the  mbiister  of  God  for  good,  or  a 
terror  to  evil  doers,  and  a  praise  to  them  that  do  well,  if  he  is  so 
disposed  and  inclined,  as  to  love  that  which  is  evil,  and  hate 
that  which  is  good,  and  so  actually  is  a  praise  to  evil  doers, 
and  a  terror  to  such  as  do  well  ?     To  suppose  any  such  thing, 


[140] 

is  to  overthrow  the  universally  established  connection  be- 
tween cause  and  effect,  the  means  and  the  end.  And  so 
much  (namel}',  that  the  powers  there  spoken  of  are  moral 
powers),  Seceders  are  forced  to  grant  in  their  explication  of 
Rom.  xiii.  Say  they,  "  The  text  speaks  only  of  powers  in  a 
moral  sense."  And  this  concession  at  once  destroj^s  their 
scheme,  and  confirms  what  the  presbytery  plead  for,  namely, 
that  none  are  lawful  powers  but  such  as  are  so  according  to 
the  preceptive  will  of  God  in  his  word  ;  wdiich  certainly,  in 
the  judgment  of  all  vJio  would  deed  reverently  with  the  oracles 
of  God,  is,  in  this  case,  a  rule  far  preferable  '^  to  the  remain- 
ders of  natural  light,  in  the  moral  dictates  of  right  reason," 
from  which  Seceders  fetch  the  institution  of  this  divine  ordi- 
nance of  magistrac3^,andon  which  they  settle  it,  as  on  (what 
they  call)  "  the  natural  and  eternal  law  of  God ;"  prefer- 
ring that  to  the  plain,  perfect  and  complete,  revelation  of 
God's  will  in  his  word. 

The  last  text  used  by  them,  is,  1  Pet.  ii,  13  to  17,  the 
import  of  which,  they  say,  is,  that  all  who  have  a  constitu- 
tion by  consent  of  the  civil  society,  are  to  be  subjected  to  for 
the  Lord's  sake,  as  having  an  institution  from  him  :  and  that, 
however  seldom  they  were  inclined  or  employed  in  the  dis- 
charge of  the  duties  proper  to  their  office.  It  may  suffice  to 
observe,  that  while  the  apostle  is  here  speaking,  as  in  the 
above  texts,  of  moral  powers,  as  above  described,  it  is  evident, 
that  by  every  ordinance  of  man,  can  only  be  meant  the  differ- 
ent kinds  and  forms  of  civil  government,  and  governors  set 
up  by  men,  to  each  of  which  the  apostle  exorts  to  a  submis- 
sion, providing,  that  in  the  setting  up  of  these,  they  acted 
agreeably  to  the  general  laws  and  rules  appointed  by  God  in 
his  word,  both  respecting  the  constitution  of  government, 
and  the  qualifications  of  governors.  Then,  as  they  bear  the 
stamp  of  divine  authority,  they  were  to  be  submitted  to  for 
the  Lord's  sake.  But  what  manifest  abuse  of  scripture  is  it, 
to  allege  with  them  that  the  inspired  apostle  exorts  to  submit 
to  every  monster  of  iniquity,  if  only  set  up  by  the  civil 
society,  though  perhaps  guilty  of  a  number  of  crimes  that  b}^ 
the  law  of  God,  and  laws  of  men  founded  thereon,  are 
])unishable  by  a  severe  death  ?  Sure,  such  can  never  have  a 
title  to  that  obedience  which  is  due  to  the  ordinance  of 
God,  who  have  not  so  much  as  a  title  to  live  upon  the  earth. 
Moreover,  let  it  be  considered,  that  in  the  above  cited  texts, 
the  spirit  of  God  enjoins  either  that  obedience  and  subjec- 
tion that  is  due  to  lawful  magistrates,  or  that  subjection  only 
which  is  for  a  time,  by  an  extraordinary  and  special  command, 
such    as  Jer.    xxix,    7,   given  to  conquerors  and    usurpers, 


[141] 

having  no  right  but  what  is  providential  If  the  first,  then 
they  cannot  intend  any  but  those  moral  powers  who  are  said 
to  be  of  God,  in  respect  of  his  approbative  and  preceptive 
will.  If  the  last,  then  these  texts  are  not  the  rule  of  obe- 
dience to  lawful  rulers,  who  are  set  up  qualified,  and  govern 
according  to  the  law  of  God.  But  that  these  texts  can  only 
be  understood  of  the  first,  is  evident  from  this,  that  in  them 
not  only  is  the  office,  duty  and  end  of  the  civil  magistrate 
as  particularly  described,  as  the  obedience  and  subjection 
commanded ;  but  the  one  is  made  the  foundation  ground, 
and  reason  of,  and  inseparably  connected  with  the^  other. 
And  therefore  it  was,  that  the  renowned  witnesses  for  Christ 
and  his  interest,  contended  so  much  for  reformation  in  the 
civil  magistracy  and  magistrate,  in  an  agreeableness  to  the 
original  institution  of  that  ordinance,  and  endured  so  great 
opposition  on  that  account. 

To  conclude  this :  as  it  is  evident  that  these  texts  give  no 
countenance  to  the  corrupt  scheme  of  Seceders^  but  always 
suppose  the  power,  to  which  subjection  and  obedience  for 
conscience  sake  is  enjoined  to  be  lawful,  in  regard  of  matter, 
person,  title,  &c.  So  the  presbytery  cannot  but  testify  against 
them  for  perverting  and  wresting  the  scriptures  of  truth,  to 
a  favoring  of  their  anarchical  and  antiscriptural  tenet,  and 
for  their  so  stifily  and  tenaciously  pleading  for  avowed  apos- 
tasy and  defection  (which  is  the  whole  scope  and  amount  of 
their  declared  scheme  of  politics),  viz :  that  it  is  lawful  for 
posterity  to  turn  back  to  where  their  forefathers  were,  giving 
up  with  many  precious  truths,  and  further  attainments  in 
reformation,  valuable  and  necessarj^,  acquired  at  the  expense 
of  much  zeal,  faithfulness  and  treasure,  and  handed  down  to 
us,  sealed  by  the  spirit  of  God  upon  the  souls  of  his  people, 
as  his  work  and  cause ;  and  on  public  scafiblds  and  high 
places  of  the  field,  with  the  dearest  blood  of  multitudes  of 
Christ's  faithful  witnesses,  who  loved  not  their  lives  unto  the 
death.  And  this,  in  express  contradiction  to  the  land's 
solemn  covenant  engagements  to  the  Lord,  for  maintaining 
and  holding  fast  whereunto  we  had  attained.  For  notwith- 
standing all  the  regard  and  deference  Seceders  profess  to  the 
covenants  and  reformation  principles,  they  are,  all  the  w^hile, 
directly  pleading  in  defense  of  the  same  cause,  advancing 
the  same  arguments  to  support  it,  and  likewise  giving  the 
same  corrupt  and  perverted  explication  of  the  above  texts  of 
scripture,  that  the  merciless  and  bloody  murderers  and  per- 
secuters  did,  in  the  late  tyrannous  times,  in  their  stated 
opposition  to  the  cause  and  interest  of  glorious  Christ, 
together  with  the  indulged  who  took  part  with  them,  in 


[142] 

opposing  the  kingdom  and  subjects  of  Zion's  exalted  King. 
And  as  [pity  it  is]  Seceders  have  pleaded  the  cause  of  malig- 
nants,  and,  rubbing  the  rust  from  their  antiquated  arguments, 
have  presented  them  with  a  new  lustre ;  so  the  presbytery, 
in  opposition  thereto,  are  satisfied  to  plead  the  same  cause, 
with  the  same  arguments  and  to  understand  these  scriptures  in 
the  same  sense  as  was  done  by  the  witnesses  for  reformation, 
whom  the  Lord  honored  to  seal  his  truths  with  their  blood, 
as  is  sufficiently  con  firmed  from  the  Cloud  of  AVitnesses  ;  where 
their  concurring  testimonies  are  harmoniously  stated,  upon 
their  disowning  the  authority  of  the  then  antichristian  and 
Erastian  government,  even  when  acknowledged  by  the  bulk 
and  body  of  the  nation,  both  civil  and  ecclesiastical.  Whence 
also  it  is  evident,  that  the  persecution  was  not  the  cause  of 
their  casting  off  that  authority  ;  but  that  authority's  assuming 
and  usurping  the  royal  prerogatives  of  Christ,  the  church's 
Head,  was  the  cause  of  their  disowning  it ;  and  then  their 
refusing  to  acknowledge  foresaid  authority,  was  the  cause  of 
all  their  persecution. 

3.  The  presbytery  testify  against  foresaid  Associates,  on 
account  of  their  corruption  in  worship;  particularly,  in  the 
duty  of  prayer,  both  as  practiced  by  their  ministers,  and  by 
them  enjoined  upon  their  people. 

Wherein,  in  an  inconsistency  with  a  faithful  testimony 
against  the  declared  enemies  of  the  church's  head  and  king, 
they  affect  to  express  a  superlative  loyalty  unto  the  prelatic 
possessors  of  power,  not  much  differing  from  the  forms  im- 
posed upon,  and  observed  by  the  Erastian  church.  The  pres- 
bytery acknowledge  it  duty  to  pray  for  all  men,  in  the 
various  stations  of  life,  as  sinners  lost,  of  the  ruined  family 
of  Adam,  standing  absolutely  in  need  of  a  Savior,  that  they 
may  be  saved  and  come  to  the  knowledge  of  the  truth  ;  as 
is  enjoined,  1  Tim.  ii,  1,  2.  Which  yet  must  not  be  under- 
stood in  an  unlimited  sense,  but  with  submission  to  the  will 
of  God,  if  they  belong  to  the  election  of  grace.  Nay,  they 
acknowledge  it  indispensable  duty,  as  to  pray,  that  the  church 
may  obtain  such  kings  and  queens,  as  shall  be  to  her  nursing 
fathers  and  mothers,  according  to  the  Lord's  gracious  prom- 
ise ;  so,  when  such  are  granted  to  them,  it  is  their  duty  to 
make  prayers  and  supplications,  in  a  particular  manner,  for 
them.  But  it  is  no  less  than  an  abuse  of  scripture,  and  flat 
contradiction  to  many  promises  and  threatenings,  to  extend 
foresaid  command  to  every  person  without  distinction  whom 
providence  advances  to  the  supreme  rule  over  the  people  of 
God,  in  a  way  of  acknowledging  their  authority  as  lawful, 
and  of  praying  for  success  and  prosperity  to  them  (as  Se- 


[14.3] 

ceders  do),  to  pray  for  success  unto,  and  the  continuance  of 
wicked  rulers,  that  are  enemies  to  the  Lord,  and  usurpers  of 
his  crown,  and  such  whom  the  Lord  in  anger  against  a 
people  for  their  sins,  may  send  as  a  special  punishment  upon 
them,  and  from  whom  he  has  promised  deliverance  unto  his 
people,  as  a  peculiar  blessing,  is  no  less  than  the  slighting  of 
the  promises,  and  deriding  of  threatenings,  and  in  reality,  is 
a  taking  part  with  God's  enemies,  against  him  and  his 
cause.  As  it  is  impossible,  sincerely  to  pray  for  the  coming 
of  Christ's  kingdom,  and  advancement  thereof,  without 
also,  as  a  necessary  mean  conducive  thereto,  to  pray  for  the 
downfall  and  destruction  of  all  his  enemies,  as  such,  what- 
ever be  their  place  and  station  (which  is  not  at  all  inconsist- 
ent with  praying  for  their  salvation,  as  lost  sinners; ;  seeing 
Jesus  Christ  no  less  elfectually  destroys  his  enemies,  when 
he  makes  them  to  bow  in  a  way  of  willing  subjection  to  the 
scepter  of  his  law  and  grace,  than  when  he  breaks  them  in 
pieces  with  his  iron  rod  of  wrath  ;  so,  how  self-contradictory 
is  it  in  Seceders^  to  pray  for  the  coming  of  Christ's  medi- 
atory kingdom  ;  and,  at  the  same  time  to  pray  for  the  suc- 
cess and  preservation  of  one,  in  his  kingly  character,  who 
themselves  acknowledge,  has,  in  that  character,  made  griev- 
ous encroachments  upon  the  royal  prerogatives  of  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  is  an  usurper  of  his  crown,  and  therefore,  in 
that  view,  must  be  considered  as  an  enemy  to  his  kingdom? 
That  the  above  .is  no  false  charge  against  Seceders^  is  wit- 
nessed by  a  variety  of  their  causes  of  fasting,  concluding 
with  such  prayers,  which  they  have  emitted,  as  well  as  by 
their  daily  practice:  and  ^diVtiawXavly ^  Antibitrgher  Seceders, 
have  given  a  late  recent  proof  of  this ;  in  what  they  call,  A 
solemn  warning  by  the  Associate  Synod^  &c.  Which  unfaith- 
ful warning  concludes  with  a  self-contradictory  form  of 
prayer,  enjoined  upon  all  under  the  inspection  of  said  Synod. 
Among  other  things,  they  "  exhort  all — the  people  under 
their  inspection,  to  pour  out  earnest  and  incessant  supplica- 
tions before  the  Lord,  in  a  dependence  upon  the  merit  and 
intercession  of  our  great  High-priest,  that  he  may — bring 
about  a  revival  of  our  covenanted  reformation — removing 
all  the  mountains  which  stand  in  the  way ;  that  he  may 
abundantly  bless  our  sovereign  king  George.,  and  the  appar- 
ent heir  of  the  crown, — blasting  all  the  plots  or  eftbrts  of 
whatever  enemies,  open  or  secret, — against  the  Protestant 
succession  to  the  throne  of  these  kingdoms  in  the  family  of 
Hanover;  that  he  may  be  gracious  to  the  high  courts  of  par- 
liament, in  this  and  the  neighboring  island, — leading  them 
to  proper  measures  for  the  honor  of  Christ ;  that  he  may 
hasten  the  enlargement  of  the  Mediator's  kingdom,"  &c. 


[144] 

On  all  which,  let  it  suffice  to  observe,  1.  That  as  in  no 
part  of  this  praj-er  they  make  any  exceptions  against,  so 
they  must  be  understood  therein,  ajiproving  of  the  constitu- 
tion of  the  king,  the  establishment  and  limitation  of  the 
throne  of  these  kingdoms  in  the  Hanoverian  family,  as 
presently  by  law  established :  and  also,  approving  of  the 
British  and  Irish  parliaments,  in  their  constitution  as  by  law 
established,  though  both  of  them  grossly  Erastian,  and  neces- 
sarily connected  with  maintaining  English  popish  ceremo- 
nies, the  whole  English  hierarchy,  and  civil  places  and 
power  of  churchmen ;  in  opposition  to  the  word  of  God, 
reforming  laws,  and  covenanted  constitutions  of  the  nations. 
Hence,  2.  This  pattern  of  prayer  must  be  understood  as  con- 
taining earnest  supplications  to  the  Lord,  that  he  may  con- 
tinue and  preserve  an  Erastian  constitution,  that  he  may 
perpetuate  the  limited  succession  to  the  throne  in  the  family 
of  Hanover;  and  that,  in  opposition  to  all  attempts  what- 
ever, toward  any  change,  however  much  it  might  contribute 
to  the  glory  of  God,  good  of  the  church,  and  revival  of  a 
covenanted  reformation  ;  and  also,  seems  to  include  a  desire 
that  God  may  preserve  and  maintain  a  parliament  in  the 
nations,  one  of  the  houses  whereof,  viz :  the  House  of  Peers, 
is  composed  partly  of  spiritual  lords ^  as  essential  members 
thereof, — an  antichristian  designation,  a  title  and  office,  not 
to  be  found  in  the  book  of  divine  revelation.  So,  3.  This 
prayer  seems  to  suppose  a  consistency  between  the  preserva- 
tion of  all  these,  and  the  revival  of  a  covenanted  reforma- 
tion in  these  lands  ;  and  also  that  they,  particularly  a  parlia- 
ment, thus  antichristian  in  its  constitution,  are  proper  in- 
struments for  promoting  the  honor  and  declarative  glory  of 
Christ ;  although  the  prelates,  constituent  members  therein, 
are  a  generation  of  men  that  were  never  yet  known  to  have 
a  vote  for  Christ's  kingdom  and  interest.  And  therefore,  4. 
This  prayer  consists  of  Hat  contradiction.  (1.)  In  regard  the 
revival  of  a  covenanted  reformation,  and  the  flourishing  of 
Christ's  mediatory  kingdom,  nationally,  must  be  attended 
with  the  overthrow  of  all  constitutions,  civil  and  ecclesiasti- 
cal, that  hinder  and  oppose  the  same  ;  Hag.  ii,  6,  7,  and  with 
the  down  bringing  of  all  the  enemies  thereof,  from  the  higlit 
of  their  excellency.  (2.)  It  is  a  contradiction  for  them  to 
pray,  that  the  Lord  would  remove  all  the  mountains  that 
stand  in  the  way  of  the  revival  of  our  reformation ;  and 
yet,  at  the  same  time,  pray  for  the  preservation  and  contin- 
uance of  the  constitution,  under  which  (as  they  themselves 
acknowledge.  Defense  of  their  Frinc,  page  51)  :  '*  There  is  a 
mighty  bar  thrust  into  the  way  of  our  covenanted  reforma- 


[145] 

tioii,  botli  in  clinrch  and  state  ;  3'e3,  a  gravestone  is  laid,  and 
establislied  upon  the  same."  (3.)  It  is  a  sinful  and  glaring 
contradiction  i'ov  Secede rs  to  rank  an  api)robation  of  the  J^ng- 
lish  hierarchy  among  our  public  national  sins  and  ste})s  of 
defection  (as  they  do,  page  53  of  their  pamphlet) ;  and  yet 
themselves  persist  and  continue  in  the  same  sin  and  guilt,, 
homologating  and  approving  the  antichristian  constitution 
of  the  British  and  Irish  parliaments,  by  praying  (like  their 
forefathers,  in  their  fulsome  address  to  James  the  Papist)  for 
divine  illumination  and  conduct  to  the  Prelates  in  their 
civil  places  and  power,  as  necessary  members  there,  as  they 
do  in  this  prayer  of  theirs.  Can  such  be  supposed  to  be 
either  truly  sensible  of  sin,  or  humbled  for  it,  who,  notwith- 
standing all  their  confessions,  still  continue  in  the  love  and 
practice  of  it  ?  But  with  such  mock  acknowledgments  (of 
which  a  variety  of  other  instances  might  be  given)  have 
they  hitherto  imposed  on  the  generation.  And  so,  5.  It 
is  a  prayer,  that  in  several  parts  thereof,  has  no  scripture 
warrant,  no  foundation  in  the  promises  of  God.  Particu- 
larly, on  what  scriptural  warrant,  what  promise,  can  Seceders 
build  their  prayers  for,  or  expectation  of  the  Lord's  answer- 
ing them,  by  blessing  an  Erastian  government  to  themselves 
or  others,  which  being  in  its  const. tution,  contrary  to  the 
word  of  God, — is  such,  that  under  it  (as  they  grant,  ibid. 
page  46),  a  people  cannot  truly  prosper  in  their  civil  con- 
cerns, nor  be  enriched  with  the  blessings  of  the  gospel  ? 
From  wliat  scriptural  promise  are  they  warranted  to  pray, 
that  God  may  perpetuate  the  succession  to  the  throne  in  any 
one  family,  and  especially,  when  that  succession  is  circum- 
scribed and  limited,  in  a  way  opposite  to  the  laws  of  God, 
and  mediatory  kingdom  of  Christ  ?  and  therefore,  a  prayer 
that  cannot  be  made  in  faith,  and  so  cannot  be  acceptable  to 
God  in  its  complex  form.  No  person  can  have  faith  in  the 
merit  and  intercession  of  Christ,  for  obtaining  anything  in 
prayer,  but  what  Christ  has  priorly  merited,  and  does  actu- 
ally intercede  for.  But  it  would  savor  too  much  of  blas- 
phemy, to  apply  some  of  the  particulars  already  noticed  in 
this  form  of  prayer,  to  the  merit  and  intercession  of  our 
great  High-priest.  Sure  it  cannot  be  thought,  that  he  makes 
intercession  for  the  prosperity  and  success  of  his  enemies,  in 
their  stated  opposition  to  his  kingdom  and  interest  in  this 
world  ;  neither  can  it  be  consistent'with  fidelity  to  Christ, as 
a  King,  for  his  professed  subjects  to  pray  for  it.  What  a 
fearful  tr  fling  with  God  in  the  duty  of  prayer,  is  it  to  pray 
that  the  Lord  may  bring  down  popery  and  prelacy  ;  and  next 
breath  to  pray  that  the  Lord  may  continue,  prosper,  and  pre- 
serve the  Erastian  head,  and  great  bulwark  of  prelacy  ! 


[146] 

.  4.  Again,  the  presbytery  testify  against  the  Associate 
party  for  their  treachery  in  covenant.  This  is  a  sin  that  is  in 
scri})ture,  and  even  by  the  common  voice  of  mankind,  de- 
clared very  heinoas ;  but  which,  by  what  is  ah-eady  dis- 
covered anent  said  party,  appears  too,  too  justly  chargeable 
upon  them.  It  is  notorious,  and  what  themselves  boast 
nmch  of,  that  they  professedly  maintain  the  moral  and 
perpetual  obligation  of  the  covenants,  both  the  National  Cove- 
nant of  Scotland^  and  the  Solemn  League  and  Covenant  of 
Scotland^  England  and  Ireland ^nwXQYQd  into  for  reformation  and 
defense  of  religion,  and  for  bringing  the  churches  of  God  in  the 
three  kingdoms  to  the  nearest  conjunction  and  uniformity 
in  religion,  according  to  the  word  of  God.  They  also  do  in 
the  most  public  manner  profess,  that  they  are  the  only  true 
faithful  witnesses  for  a  covenanted  reformation.  But  the 
consistency  of  such  a  profession  wath  maintaining  principles 
that  are  diametrically  opposite  to  these  covenants,  and  the 
cause  of  truth,  sworn  to  in  them  (as  has  been  made  evident 
they  do)  is  altogether  unintelligible.  Is  it  possible  strenuously 
to  maintain  the  lawfulness  of  a  prelatical  government  abjured 
in  the  covenants,  and  yet  at  the  same  time  sincerely  and 
honestly,  according  to  the  profession  made  by  the  church, 
Fsal.  xliv,  17, 18,  to  contend  for  the  moral  obligation  of  the 
covenants,  and  the  work  of  reformation  sworn  to  in  them  ? 
But  further,  the  necessity  of  lifting  up  a  testimony  against 
Seceders,  for  their  treachery  and  unfaithfulness  in  the  matter 
of  the  covenants,  will  appear  by  considering  that  they,  after 
making  a  very  solemn  profession  of  renewing  the  National 
Covenant  of  Scotland^  and  the  Solemn  League  and  Covenant 
of  the  three  lands,  in  place  of  practicing  accordingly,  have, 
in  reality,  made  a  new  and  very  different  bond  or  covenant, 
both  in  form  and  substance,  which  they  have  not  only  sworn 
themselves,  but  also  imposed  upon  many  honest  people :  and 
this  as  a  renewing,  nay,  as  the  only  right  way  of  renewing 
said  covenants  according  to  the  circumstances  of  the  times. 
That  this  bond  entered  into  by  Seceders  (however  good  it 
may  be,  considered  in  an  abstract  sense)  is  not  a  renovation 
of  the  national  covenants,  as  they  assert  it  to  be,  but  a 
treacherous  and  deceitful  burying  of  these  covenants,  as  to 
their  sum  and  substance,  is  abundantly  evident  from  their 
industrious  keeping  out,  and  omitting  the  most  i)art  of  them 
out  of  their  new  and  artificial  bond.  Particularly,  although 
they  pretend  to  a  renovation  both  of  the  National  and 
Solcinn  League  and  Covenant,  yet  they  have  almost  entirely 
left  out,  and  passed  over  the  National  Covenant  of  Scotland; 
and    satisfying  themselves    with  simply  testifying   against 


[147] 

popery,  have  omitted  all  the  particular  errors  and  branches 
thereof  expressly  contained  in  the  ^N'ational  Covenant.  As 
to  the  Solemn  League,  of  which  they  pretend  their  bond  is 
also  a  renovation,  there  is  very  little  of  it  to  be  found  therein, 
as  appears  from  a  comparison  of  the  one  with  the  other. 
Thus  they  have  left  out  that  remarkable  and  necessary 
■clause  in  the  first  Article,  viz:  "Against  our  common  ene- 
mies:" and  in  place  of  endeavoring  to  bring  the  churches  of 
God  in  the  three  kingdoms  to  the  nearest  conjunction  and 
uniformity  in  religion,  Confession  of  Faith,  Form  of 
Church  Government,  Directory  tor  Worship  and  Catechizing, 
as  in  said  article,  there  is  an  unintelligible  clause  or  jumble 
of  words  brought  in,  viz:  to  promote  and  advance  our 
covenanted  conjunction  and  uniformity  in  religion,  just  as 
if  that  conjunction  and  uniformity  had  a  present  existence 
(in  its  native  and  original  state  and  form)  in  the  three  lands  ; 
when,  on  the  contrary,  presbytery  is  established  in  Scotland^ 
yet  not  on  the  footing  of  the  word  of  God  and  the  covenants, 
and  Episcopacy  is  established  in  England  and  Ireland^  in 
contradiction  to  the  w^ord  of  God  and  the  covenants.  2. 
They  have  kept  out  that  necessary  clause  in  the  2d  article, 
viz:  "  Without  respect  of  persons,  endeavor  the  extirpation," 
^fec,  and  instead  thereof  say,  "Testify  against  popery  and 
prelacy;"  where  appears  not  only  a  dilference  in  expression, 
but  a  substantial  difference.  3.  They  have  altogether 
•omitted  and  kept  out  the  3d  and  4th  articles.  4.  They  have 
kept  out  that  material  and  necessary  clause  in  the  5th  article, 
viz:  "That  justice  may  be  done  on  the  willful  opposers 
thereof,"  in  manner  expressed  in  the  preceding  article.  5. 
They  have  left  out  all  the  6th  article,  excepting  these  words: 
"  We  shall  not  give  ourselves  up  to  a  detestable  neutrality 
and  indifference  in  the  cause  of  God."  And  6.  They  have 
wholly  omitted  that  material  paragraph  of  the  conclusion  of 
the  Solemn  League.  It  is  therefore  evident,  that  the  model 
of  the  covenants  agreed  to  by  Seced.ers^  is  different  in  sub- 
stance, as  well  as  form,  from  our  ancient  covenants  ;  so  that, 
under  pretense  of  renovation,  they  have  made  a  new  bond. 
But,  again,  that  their  pretended  renovation  is  a  real  bury- 
ing of  the  covenanted  reformation  appears,  from  their  over- 
looking, casting  by,  and  keeping  out  the  J^ational  Covenant, 
as  it  was  renewed  in  the  year  1638,  and  the  Solemn  League 
and  Covenant,  as  it  was  renewed  in  the  year  1648,  and  going 
back  to  the  years  1580  and  1581,  as  the  pattern  they  propose 
to  follow  in  carrying  on  of  their  covenanted  testimony.  And 
what  can  be  the  reason  of  this  ?  Can  it  be,  because  prelacy, 
and  the  civil  places  and  power  of  churchmen,  were,  by  the 


[148] 

explication  and  application  of  the  covenant,  rt???20  1638,  ex- 
pressly and  exi)licitly  condemned,  while  they  were  formerly 
only  implicitly,  and  by  way  of  consequence  V  iSo  they  have 
at  least,  by  this  ste[)  back,  both  tacitly  condennied  our  re- 
formers, of  giving  themselves  needless  trouble  in  tlieir  explan- 
ation of  the  covenant,  as  condemning  and  abjuring  Episco- 
pacy ;  and  also,  do  overlook,  despise,  and  disgracefully  bury 
the  niany  advanced  steps  of  reformation  attained  to  in  these 
covenanted  lands  between  1638  and  1649  (particularly  the 
church  of  Scotland's  testimony  against  prelacy)  in  which 
time  reformation  arrived  to  a  greater  height  of  })urity  than 
ever  was  attained  in  any  foregoing  period  of  this  church  and 
nation.  However,  wdiatever  their  reasons  were  for  so  doing, 
that  they  have  so  done  is  clear,  from  their  act  Edlnbargh^ 
February  3d,  1743,  where  they  conclude  with  anotabene^  lest 
it  should  not  otherwise  have  been  observed  that  they  do  so, 
and  thereby  declare  their  sin  as  Sodom^  as  if  the  publishing 
of  it  would  make  an  atonement  for  it.  "IS".  B.  Only  the 
National  Covenant,  as  it  was  entered  into,  annis  1580,  1581 
(without  the  bond  wherein  it  was  renewed  aruio  1638)  and 
the  Solemn  League  and  Covenant  (without  the  solemn 
acknowledgment  of  sins,  and  engagement  to  duties,  anno 
1648),  are  liereby  prefixed  unto  the  following  act,  agreeably 
unto  the  design  of  said  act:"  and  for  this  they  pretend  the 
example  of  our  reformers,  anno  1638,  who  renewed  the  Na- 
tional Covenant  hy  a  new  bond,  in  place  of  that  new  bond 
wdierewith  it  was  renewed  and  sworn,  1590,  which  they 
omitted — wherein  their  deceit  and  unfaithfulness  is  very  ob- 
vious from  the  following  observations :  1.  Hereby  they  have 
cast  a  most  injurious  calunuiy  and  reproach  upon  our  honored 
reformers,  and  in  their  pretending  to  imitate  their  practice, 
in  renovation  of  the  covenants,  are  guilty  of  a  most  dreadful 
and  deceitful  imposition  on  the  generation  ;  for  though  our 
reformers  did  renew  the  covenants  with  a  new  bond,  and 
perhaps  \Qyy  seldom  swear  them  without  some  additions,  yet 
they  never  went  back  from  any  part  of  reformation,  espoused 
and  sworn  to  in  the  renovations  that  were  before  them,  under 
a  pretense,  that  such  points  of  reformation  formerly  attained, 
w^ere  unsuitable,  or  not  adapted  to  their  circumstances,  as 
Seceders  have  done.  On  the  contrary,  our  reformers,  in  all 
the  difierent  renovations  of  tlie  covenants,  not  onl}^  included 
all  that  wasformerly  attained  to,  binding  themselves  in  strict 
adherence  to  all  the  articles  priorly  in  the  oath  and  covenant 
of  God  (at  the  same  time  solemidy  acknowledging  all  former 
breaches  thereof;  and  obliging  theniselves,  in  the  strength  of 
grace  to  the  performance  of  the  contrary,  and  consequential 


[U9J 

duties),  but  also,  still  went  forward  in  explaining  and  more 
explicitly  applj^ing  the  covenants  against  the  sins  of  the  day, 
and  more  expressly  binding  themselves  to  the  opposite  duties, 
as  is  clear  from  the  bond  wherewith  our  reformers  renewed 
the  covenants  1638,  and  the  solemn  acknowledgment  of  sins, 
and  engagements  to  duties,  1618  ;  both  which  the  Seceders 
have   barefacedly    cast   by  and    exploded    in   their   alleged 
renoviition  of  the  covenants ;  whereby,  as  it  is  manifest  that 
our  reformers  ahvays  went  forward  to  further  degrees  of  re- 
formation, so  it  is  no  less  manifest,  that  foresaid  party  acting 
contrary  to  them,  have  gone  backward.  But  2d.  They  have 
not  only  rejected  the  renovations  of  the  covenants  by  our 
ancestors  1638  and  1640 ;  but  even  when  they  pretended  to 
follow  the  renovation  of  the  covenant,  1580  and  1581,  they 
have  kept  out  and  perverted  almost  the  whole  of  the  national 
covenants,  as  was  already  observed  ;    particularly  in  their 
new  bond,  they  have  cast  away  the  civil  part  of  the  coven- 
ants altogether.     For  what  reason  they  do  so,  is  indeed  hard 
to  say.     True,  X\\Qy  allege  it  would  be  a  blending  of  civil  and 
•religious  matters  together  ;  and  that  it  is  not  proper  (or  com- 
petent for  them,  as  a  church  judicatory)  to  meddle  in  these 
matters,  that  are  of  a  civil  nature.     But  seeing  inlinite  wis- 
dom has  not  judged  it  a  (sinful)  blending  of  civil  and  reli- 
gious concerns  together,  to  deliver  the  duties,  both  civil  and 
religious,  in  one  and  the  same  moral  law  unto  mankind;  it  is 
difficult  to  conceive,  how   the  people  of  God  their  binding 
themselves  in  a  covenant  of  duties  to  the  conscientious  per- 
formance of  all  the  duties  God  required  of  them  in  his  word, 
whether  civil  or  religious,  according  to  their  respective  or 
immediate  objects,  can  be  reputed  a  blending  of  them  to- 
gether ;  or  that  this  has  the  remotest  tendency  to  destroy 
that  distinction  which   God  in  liis  revealed  will  has  stated 
between  what  is  immediately  civil  in  its  nature,  and  what  is 
properly  religious.     This,  therefore,  is  a  mere  groundless  pre- 
tense and  evasion  ;  and  if  it  has  any  force  at  all,  as  a  reason, 
it  strikes  against  the  reformers  who  compiled  these  covenants. 
They  are  the  projier  objects  at  whom  through  the  sides  of 
others  it  thrusts;  for  they,  at  the  framing  of  sundry  of  their 
■covenants,  and  afterward  at  the  renovation  of  their  covenant, 
did  it  both  without  the  ecclesiastical  authority,  and  also 
w^ithout,  and  contrary  unto,  yea,  at  the  hazard  of  suftering 
the  greatest  severities  from    the    civil   authority    on    that 
account.      And   yet    the   ecclesiastical  judicatories   of  the 
church    of    Scotland    afterward    found    it    competent    for 
them,  as  such,  to  approve  of  these  covenants,  both  as  to 
the  matter  and  form  of  them,  without  branding  and  ex]>lod- 
ing  them  as  a  blending  of  matters  civil  and  religious  together, 


[150] 

as  Seceders  have  done.  Again,  as  the  covenants  require  no 
other  than  a  lawful  magistrate;  and  seeing  Seceders  acknow- 
ledge the  present  as  lawful,  and  that  it  is  their  duty  to  be 
subject  to,  and  support  them  as  such,  it  is  impossible  to  con- 
ceive any  reason,  why  they  have  not  honored  the  present 
rulers  with  a  place  in  their  new^  and  artificial  bond  :  unless 
perhaps  this,  that  they  were  aware  that  would  have  been  so 
glaring  a  contradiction  to  these  covenants  they  were  pretend- 
ing to  renew,  as  w^ould  doubtless  have  startled  and  driven 
away  from  them  a  good  many  honest  people,  whom  they  have 
allured  and  led  aside  by  their  good  words  and  fair-set 
speeches  ;  and  yet  it  is  pretty  obvious  they  have  included 
the  present  rulers  in  their  bond,  and  taken  them  in  an 
oblique  and  clandestine  way,  by  swearing  to  the  relative 
duties  contained  in  the  fifth  commandment,  seeing  they  ac- 
knowledge them  as  their  civil  parents.  Again,  as  their  bond  ' 
is  supposed  to  reduplicate  upon  the  national  covenants,  and 
so  to  bind  to  every  article  in  them,  by  native  consequence, 
they  swear  to  a  prelatical  government :  for  seeing  they  have 
made  no  exception  in  their  bond,  it  must  be  applied  to  no 
other,  but  the  government,  which  presently  exists  ;  and  this, 
in  flat  contradiction  to  the  covenants,  by  wdiich  such  a  gov- 
ernment is  abjured.  So  that  their  new  bond  is  no  less  oppo- 
site to  the  national  covenants,  and  is  much  more  deceitful, 
than  if  they  had  ]>lainl3^  and  explicitly  sworn  allegiance  to 
the  present  government  therein  ;  only  the  generality  of  their 
implicit  followers  do  not  so  readily  observe  it.  Upon  the 
whole,  how  strange  is  it,  that  they  should  have  the  assur- 
ance to  father  their  deceitful  apostasy,  and  wretched  burying 
of  the  covenants  upon  our  reformers,  so  injuriously  to  their 
character,  and  at  the  hazard  of  imposing  a  heinous  and  base 
cheat  upon  the  w^orld,  while,  notwithstanding  all  their  vain 
pretensions,  it  is  undeniably  evident  to  those  who  will  im- 
partially, and  without  prejudice,  examine  the  method  and 
order  whereby  our  ancestors  renewed  our  covenants,  that  in 
this  they  have  been  so  far  from  following  their  example,  that 
they  have  directly  contradicted  the  same,  and,  in  reality, 
buried  much  of  the  covenants  and  work  of  reformation  sworn 
to  in  them.  For  though  a  people  may  very  lawfully,  by  a 
new  bond,  enlarge  and  add  to  their  former  obligations  that 
they  brought  themselves  under;  yet  they  can  never,  without 
involving  themselves  in  the  guilt  of  perjury,  relax  or  cancel 
former  obligations  by  any  future  bond.  Accordingly,  our 
worthy  ancestors,  by  all  the  new  bonds  they  annexed  to 
former  obligations,  were  so  far  from  attempting  to  loose 
themselves  from  any  covenanted  duty   that  either  they  or 


[151] 

their  fathers  were  priorly  bound  unto,  that  they  thereby  still 
brought  themselves  under  straighter  bonds  to  perform  all 
their  former  and  new  obligations  of  duty  to  God.  But,  as 
has  been  discovered,  Seceders,  by  their  artificial  bond,  bave 
cast  out  the  very  substance  and  spirit  of  the  covenants,  by 
their  rumping  and  hewing  them  at  pleasure,  to  reduce  them 
to  the  sinful  circumstances  of  the  time :  and  this,  in  opposi- 
tion to  their  own  public  profession,  that  these  covenants  are 
moral  in  their  nature  and  obligatory  upon  these  nations  to 
tbe  latest  posterity.  How  surprising  it  is  then,  that  after  such 
a  profession,  they  dare  cast  out  of  their  bond  the  greatest 
parts  of  the  covenants  1  This  is  not  only  to  break  these  obli- 
gations, but  it  is  to  make  a  public  declaration,  that  different 
times  and  circumstances  do  free  men  from  their  obligation 
to  keep  their  most  solemn  vows  to  the  Most  High.  To  this, 
as  very  applicable,  may  be  subjoined  the  words  of  Mr.  Case, 
in  a  sermon  relative  to  the  covenants:  "Others  have  taken  _ 
it  (viz :  the  covenant)  with  their  own  evasions,  limitations 
and  reservations  :  such  a  Jesuitical  spirit  has  got  in  among 
us,  by  which  means  it  comes  to  pass,  tbat  by  the  time  that  men 
have  pared  off  and  left  out,  and  put  what  interpretation  they 
frame  to  themselves,  there  is  little  left  worth  the  name  of  a 
covenant."  And,  indeed,  so  many  are  the  self-inconsistencies 
and  gross  contradictions  attending  this  new  bond,  that  it 
would  have  been  much  more  for  the  honor  both  of  the  cov- 
enants, and  of  Seceders  themselves,  rather  never  to  have  at- 
tempted such  a  work,  than  to  have  done  it  in  a  way  of  tear- 
ing to  pieces  our  solemn  national  vows.  Wherefore  the 
presbytery  cannot  but,  in  testi tying  against  them  for  their 
unfaithfulness,  obtest  all  the  lovers  of  truth,  to  beware  of 
joining  in  this  course  of  treachery,  and  apostasy  from  God 
and  his  covenanted  cause. 

5.  The  presbytery  testify  against  foresaid  party,  for  their 
unfaithfulness  and  partiality  in  point  of  testimony-bearing 
to  a  covenanted  work  of  reformation ;  while  yet  they  not 
only  profess  to  be  witnesses,  but  the  only  true  and  faithful 
contenders  for  the  said  work  and  cause.  The  justness  of 
this  charge  manifestly  appears  from  the  scope  of  their  Act 
and  Testimony,  which  seems  to  be  principiUy  leveled  against 
the  corruptions  of  the  present  church  judicatories,  and  not 
equally  against  the  corruptions  of  both  church  and  state,  in 
agreeableness  to  the  faithful  testimonies  of  the  Lord's  peo- 
ple in  former  times,  and  in  a  consistency  with  the  reforma- 
tion that  was  jointly  carried  on  in  both  church  and  state, 
and  solemnly  sworn  and  engaged  to  in  the  covenants.  They 
appear   never  to  have  fully  adopted  the  testimony  of  th^ 


[152] 

Church  of  Scotland  in  her  purest  times,  when  the  profession 
of  the  true  religion  was  by  law  made  a  necessary  qualiiica- 
tion  of  every  one  that  should  be  admitted  to  })laces  of  civil 
trust  and  power  in  the  nation.  Kor  are  the  faithful  testi- 
monies of  the  valiant  sufferers  and  contenders,  even  unto 
death,  for  the  precious  truths  of  God  in  the  late  persecuting 
period,  as  stated  against  both  church  and  state,  lully  stated, 
and  judicially  ap})roven  by  them  ;  much  less  have  they  fully 
adopted  the  testimony,  as  stated  against  the  revolution  con- 
stitution, both  civil  and  ecclesiastical,  which  they  did  not  in 
their  testimony  condemn  as  sinful ;  but  on  the  contrary, 
acknowledged  the  civil  constitution  lawful,  notwithstanding 
of  their  complaining  of  some  defects  and  omissions  therein. 
Of  wdiich  error  in  the  foundation,  it  may  be  said,  in  respect 
of  all  the  mal-administrations  since,  it  wa^fons  et  origo  mail. 
And  seeing,  in  and  by  the  revolution  constitution,  the  na- 
tion was  involved  in  the  guilt  of  apostasy  and  treachery,  in 
subvertino;  and  overturnino-  the  o-ood  and  laudable  laws  for 
true  religion  and  right  liberty,  a  faint  declaring  against 
some  oniissions  cannot  be  accounted  sufficient ;  especially 
when  what  is  thus  partly  complained  of,  is  at  the  same  time 
coniplexlj^  extolled,  as  a  great  and  glorious  deliverance  to 
the  church  and  nation.  Their  testimony  further  appears  to 
be  partial  and  unfaitliful,  considering  that  their  secession 
w^as  not  from  the  constitution  of  the  Revolution  Church, 
but  in  a  partial  and  limited  way,  from  a  prevailing  corrupt 
party  in  the  judicatories  of  the  church  :  upon  wdiich  foot- 
ing it  was,  that  some  of  the  greatest  note  among  them  made 
their  accession  after  their  iirst  secession,  expressly  declaring 
so  much;  whereby  they  have  injured  the  true  state  of  the 
testimony  wdiich  the  Lord  honored  his  covenanted  Church 
of  *S'co^/(^7i<:Z  to  bear ;  wdiicli  is  stated  against  all  lukewarm 
and  Laodicean  professors,  as  well  as  open  enemies,  and 
against  all  Erastinn  usur[>ation,  and  sectarian  invasion  on 
the  cause  of  Christ.  Moreover,  their  unfaithfuhiess  in 
point  of  testimony,  convincingly  appears  from  their  bitter 
contentions,  and  almost  endless  dis[>utes  among  themselves, 
after  their  breach,  upon  the  religious  clause  of  some  burgess 
oaths,  anent  the  true  state  of  their  own  testimony,  whether 
lifted  up  against  the  revolution  constitution  of  the  church, 
and  settlement  of  religion,  or  not.  Had  necessary  and  real 
faithfulness  been  studied,  in  stating  their  testimony  clearly 
and  plainly,  against  all  the  defection,  and  apostasy  of  the 
day  from  a  covenanted  reformation,  there  had  been  no  occa- 
sion for  sucli  a  dispute  among  them.  And  now,  when  the 
one  party  have  more  openly  avowed  their  unfaithfulness,  in 


[153] 

receding  from  almost  everytliing  that  had  the  least  appear- 
ance of  faithfulness  to  the  cause   and  covenant  of  God,  in 
their  former  testimony,  and  professedl}^  adopted  the  revolu- 
tion settlement,  as  theirs,  acknowledging  the  constitutions, 
both  civil  and  ecclesiastical,  as  lawful,  in  an  open  contra- 
diction to  any  testimony  for  reformation   work:    the  other 
party,   to    wlt^  Antlbar(jkers^    have    now  indeed   professedly 
cast  off  the  revolution  constitution   of  the  church  (at  the 
same  time  continuing  to  make  their  partial  Act  and  Testi- 
mony the  basis  of  their  distinguished  profession);  but  yet, 
in  an  inconsistency  therewith,  and   in  contradiction  to  the 
covenanted  testimony  of  the  church  of  Scotland^  continue  to 
adopt  the  constitution  of  the  iState,  as  being,  however  de- 
fective, yet  agreeable  to  the  precept,  and  so  lawful.     Hence, 
they  are  still  most  partial  in  their  testimony,  of  which  they 
have  given  a  fresh  and  notable  proof,  in  forementioned  warn- 
ing ])ublished  by  them  :    wherein  though  there  are  a  variety 
of  evils  condescended  upon,  as  just  grounds  of  the  Lord's 
controversy  with  the  nations,  yet  there  is  not  that  faithful- 
ness used  therein,  in  a  particular  charging  home  of  the  sev- 
eral sins  mentioned,  upon  every  one  in  their  different  ranks, 
as,  in  agreeableness  to  the  word  of  God,  is  requisite  to  work 
a  conviction  in  every  one,  that  they  may  turn  from  their 
sins,  and  as  might  correspond  to  the  title  given  that   per- 
formance.    Thus,  passing   other  instances   that  might  also 
have  been  observed,  they  justly  remark,  page  31st,    "  The 
glorious  sovereignty  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  as  the  alone 
King  and  Head  of  his  church,  is  sadly  encroached  upon  and 
opposed   by  the  royal  supremacy,   in   causes   ecclesiastical. 
The  king  is  acknowledged  as  supreme  head,  or  governor  on 
earth,  of  the  cliurches  of  England  and  Ireland.     The  civil 
sovereign  is  thus  declared  to   be   the  head  or  fountain  of 
church  power,  from  whence  all  authority  and  ministrations 
in  these  churches  do  spring,  is  vested  with   all  powers  of 
government  and  discipline,  and  constituted  the  sole  judge  of 
controversies  within  the  same.     The  established  Church  of 
Scotland  have  also,  by  some  particular  managements,  sub- 
jected and  subordinated  their  ecclesiastical  meetings  to  the 
civil  power."     But  while  they  acknowledge  this  to  be  the 
sin  of  the   church,  and  an   high    provocation  against   the 
Lord ;  yet,  as  to  the  particular  sin  of  the  civil  power,  in 
assuming  and  usurping  this  Erastian  supremacy  unto  itself, 
they  are  quite  silent.     They  have  not  the  faithfulness  to  say, 
in  their  warning,  to  the  robber  of  Christ,  in  this  matter,  as 
once  the  prophet   of  the  Lord  said  to  the  king  of  Israel^ 
in   another  case,     Thou    art    the    man.      On    the   contrary 


[154] 

(which  cannot  but  have  a  tendency  to  ward  off  any 
conviction  of  his  sin  that  this  warning,  should  it  come 
into  his  hands,  might  be  expected  to  work),  they  are  guilty 
of  the  basest  flattery,  used  by  court  parasites,  styling  him, 
"  the  best  of  kings,  of  the  mildest  administration,"  as  in 
fage  13th  ;  and  acknowledge  it,  as  a  particular  effect  of  the 
Lord's  goodness,  that  we  are  privileged  with  such  an  one. 
But  is  he  indeed  deserving  of  such  a  character  ?  better  than 
which  could  not  be  given  to  tlie  most  faithful  ruler,  devot- 
ing all  his  power,  as  in  duty  bound,  to  the  support  and 
advancement  of  the  kingdom  and  interest  of  Jesus  Christ, 
that  ever  reigned.  Does  he  really  merit  such  an  encomium, 
who  sacrilegiously  usurps  and  wears  the  crown,  that  alone 
can  flourish  on  the  heacl  of  Zioris  king  ?  And  is  this  such 
a  blessing  to  the  church,  that  an  enemy  to  her  Lord  and 
Head  rules  over  her  ?  Oh  I  may  not  the  Lord  say  ?  "  I 
hearkened  and  heard,  but  they  spake  not  aright." 

6.  The  presbytery  testify  against  said  Seceding  party,  be- 
cause of  the  sinfulness  of  their  terms  of  ministerial  and 
christian  communion,  as  being  partly  destructive  of  that 
liberty  wherewith  Christ  has  made  his  people  free.  By 
which  they  have  both  imposed  upon  themselves,  and  shut  the 
door  of  access  unto  the  privileges  of  the  church,  upon  all 
such,  as,  in  a  consistency  with  their  adherence  to  truth  and 
duty,  cannot  accept  of  their  unwarrantable  restrictions.  Of 
this,  they  gave  early  discoveries,  as  appears  from  the  known 
instance  of  that  notable  backslider,  Mr.  Andrew  Clarkson, 
whom  they  obliged,  before  license,  to  make  a  public  and 
solemn  renunciation  of  his  former  principles  and  profession, 
respecting  the  covenanted  reformation.  "^  As  also,  their  re- 
jecting all  accessions  from  his  Laodicean  brethren,  wherein 
was  contained  an  exi)licit  adherence  to  the  same,  until  they 
did  drop  their  former  testimony.  This  blind  zeal  in  SecederSy 
against  a  testimony  for  truth  in  its  purity,  did  gradually 
increase,  until  it  hurried  them  on  to  a  more  particuhir  and 
forrr.al  stating  of  their  terms  of  communion,  whereby  were 
totally  excluded  all   the  free  and  faithful  of  the  land  from 

*  Mr.  Andrew  Clarkso)ior\^y]nn\]y  bolono-ed  to  the  community  of  Old  Dis- 
senters under  the  pjistonil  inspection  of  tlie  Her.  Mr.  Johji  McMillan,  ^vmnr-^ 
was  educuted  and  lived  in  co!iimuni(m  with  them,  till  upwards  of  theai^e 
of  thirty  years;  during  which  time  he  wrote  and  pul)lished  aboolv,  entitled, 
Plain  Reasom,  &c.,  settini^  forth  the,i!;rounds  why  Presbyterian  Dissenters 
refused  to  hold  communion  with  the  revolution,  church  and  state;  but, 
having  no  prospect  of  obtaining  license  and  ordination  among  them,  in 
regard  they  had  then  no  ordained  minister  belonging  to  tliem  but  old  Mr. 
McMillan  alone,  it  appeared  that,  from  a  passionate  desire  after  these 
privileges,  he  left  his  old  friends,  and  made  his  application  to  the  Associate 
Presbytery,  who  treated  him  as  above  narrated. 


[155] 

their  comrnunion,  who  could  not  approve  of,  nor  swear  the 
bond,  wherebj  they  pretended  to  renew  the  covenants :  as 
in  their  act  at  Edinburgh^  11  ^-i;  wherein  they  did  resolve 
and  determine,  "  That  the  renovation  of  the  National  Cove- 
nant of  Scotland,  and  the  Solemn  League  and  Covenant  of 
the  three  nations,  in  the  manner  now  agreed  upon,  and 
proposed  by  the  presbytery,  shall  be  the  terms  of  ministerial 
communion  with  this  presbytery,  and  likewise  of  christian 
communion,  in  admission  of  people  to  sealing  ordinances  ; 
secluding  therefrom  all  opposers,  contemners,  and  slighters 
of  the  said  renovation  of  our  solemn  covenants."  By  this 
act,  Seceders  have  obliged  their  adherents  to  consent  to  their 
infamous  burial  of  our  national  covenants  with  the  Lord^ 
and  reformation  therein  sworn  to,  particularly  as  they  were 
renewed,  both  1638  and  1648.  And  that  they  might  further 
evince  their  resolution  to  bear  down  the  foresaid  work,  they 
afterward  proceeded  to  subjoin  unto  their /ormw^a  of  ques- 
tions to  be  put  to  candidates  before  license,  and  to  proba- 
tioners before  ordination,  the  following  questions,  viz:  "  Are 
you  satisfied  with,  and  do  you  propose  to  adhere  unto,  and 
maintain  the  principles  about  the  present  civil  government^ 
which  are  declared  and  maintained  in  the  Associate  Presby- 
tery's answers  to  Mr.  Nairn,  with  their  defense  thereunto 
subjoined?"  Whereby,  in  opposition  to  the  professed 
endeavors  for  the  revival  of  a  covenanted  reformation  in 
the  lands,  they  expressly  bind  down  all  their  intrants  into 
the  office  of  the  ministry,  to  an  explicit  acknowledgment  of 
their  anti-government  scheme  of  principles  anent  the  ordi- 
nance of  magistracy ;  and  thereby  to  an  acknowledging  of 
the  lawfulness  of  a  government,  which  themselves  confess 
has  not  only  departed  from,  and  neglected  their  duty  of 
espousing  and  supporting  the  covenanted  principles  of  this 
church,  but  also  opposed,  contradicted  and  overthrown  the 
glorious  reformation  once  established  in  these  nations. 
A  government,  under  which,  as  they  profess,  the  nations 
cannot  be  enriched  by  the  blessings  of  the  gospel ;  and  that, 
because  it  does  not,  in  all  the  appurtenances  of  its  constitution 
and  administration,  run  in  agreeableness  to  the  word  of 
God.  By  all  which  it  appears  that  although  they  refuse  for- 
mally to  swear  any  oaths  of  allegiance  to  the  powers  in  being  ; 
yet  they  do  materially,  and  with  great  solemnity,  engage 
themselves  to  be  true  and  faithful  to  a  government,  under 
which,  and  while  it  stands,  they  are  certain,  if  their  conces- 
sions hold  true,  that  they  shall  never  see  the  nations  flourish^ 
either  in  their  temporal  or  spiritual  interests.  It  is  only  needful 
further   to   observe,   that   Seceders   in   the   terms  of    their 


[156] 

communion,  by  debarring  from  the  table  of  the  Lord,  all 
who  ini})iign  the  lawfulness  of  a  prelatic,  Erastian  govern- 
ment (as  is  notourly  known  they  do),  make  subjection 
and  loyalty  to  such  an  authority,  a  necessary,  and,  to  them, 
commendatory  qualilication  of  worthy  receivers  of  the 
Lord's  supper,  although  none  of  those  qualilications — re- 
quired by  (jrod  in  his  word.  While  (as  has  been  already 
observed)  they,  with  the  most  violent  passion,  refuse  to 
admit  the  professing  and  practicing  the  true  religion,  a 
necessary  qualification  of  lawful  civ.l  rulers  over  a  people 
possessed  of  and  professing  the  true  religion,  which  is  in  etfect 
to  deny  the  necessity  of  religion  altogether  as  to  civil  rulers, 
than  which  nothing  can  be  more  absurd. 

Lastly^  not  to  multiply  more  particulars,  the  presbytery 
testify  against  the  scandalous  abuse,  and  sinful  prostitution 
of  church  discipline,  and  tyranny  in  government,  whereby 
the  forementioned  party  have  remarkably  signalized  them- 
selves;  and  which,  in  a  most  precipitant  and  arbitrary 
manner,  they  have  pretended  to  execute  against  such  as  have 
discovered  the  smallest  degree  of  faithfulness,  in  endeavoring 
to  maintain  the  principles  of  our  reformation,  in  agreeable- 
ness  to  the  true  state  of  the  covenanted  testimony  of  the 
Church  of  Scotland;  which  has  not  only  a})peared  in  the  case 
of  David  Leslie^  and  some  others,  on  account  of  a  paper  of 
grievances  given  in  to  said  Associates;  against  whom  they 
proceeded  to  the  sentence  of  excommunication,  without 
using  those  formalities  and  means  of  conviction  required 
and  warranted  by  the  church's  Head,  even  in  the  case  of 
just  offenses  done  by  any  of  the  professed  members  of  his 
mystical  body  ;  or  so  much  as  allowing  that  common  justice 
to  the  sentenced  party,  that  might  be  expected  from  any 
judicatory,  bearing  the  name  of  Presbyterian.  (Though  the 
presbytery  are  not  hereby  to  be  understood  as  a[)i>roving 
every  expression  contained  in  foresaid  paper).  But  particu- 
larly, they  have  given  notable  proof  of  their  fixed  resohi- 
tion,  to  bear  down  all  just  appearances  in  favor  of  Zioii's 
King  and  cause,  in  the  case  of  Mr.  Nairn^  once  of  their 
nundjer,  because  of  his  espousing  the  principles  of  this 
presbytery,  especially,  respecting  God's  ordinance  of 
magistracy,  against  whom  they  proceeded  to  the  highest 
censures  of  the  church,  upon  the  footing  of  a  pretended 
libel ;  in  which  libel,  they  did  not  so  much  as  pretend  any 
immorality  in  ]>ractice,  or  yet  error  in  principle,  as  tlie 
ground  of  their  arbitrary  |)rocedure,  further  than  his  espous- 
ing the  received  })rinci}»les  of  this  church  in  her  best  times, 
and    what   stood   in    necessary  connection  with  such  a  pro- 


[157] 

fession  :  although,  in  adorable  providence,  he  has  since  been 
left  to  fall  into  the  practice  of  such  immorality,  as  has 
justly  rendered  him  the  object  of  church  censure  by  this  i)res- 
bytery.  As  also  in  the  case  of  Messrs.  Alexander  Marshall^ 
and  John  Cufhbertson,  with  some  others,  elders  and  private 
christians,  against  whom  they  proceeded  in  a  most  unac- 
countable, antiscriptural,  and  unprecedented  manner,  and 
upon  no  better  foundation,  than  that  noticed  in  the  case 
above,  pretended  to  de[)Ose  and  cast  such  out  of  the  com- 
munion of  their  church,  as  never  had  subjected  to  their 
authority,  nor  fonnerly  stood  in  any  established  connection 
with  them. 

And  further,  besides  these  instances  condescended  upon, 
they  habitually  aggravate  their  abuse  of  the  ordinances  of 
Christ's  house,  in  pretending  to  debar  and  excommunicate 
from  tlie  holy  sacrament  of  the  supper,  many  of  the  friends 
and  followers  of  the  Lamb,  only  because  they  cannot  con- 
scientiously, and  in  a  consistency  with  their  lidelity  to  their 
Head  and  Savior,  acknowledge  the  authority  of  the  usurpers 
of  his  crown  as  lawful.  From  all  which,  and  every  other 
instance  of  their  continued  prostitution  of  the  disci[>line  in- 
stituted by  Christ  in  his  church,  and  of  that  authority, 
which  he,  as  a  Son  over  his  own  house,  has  given  unto 
faithful  gospel  ministers,  to  the  contempt  and  scorn  of  an 
ungodly  generation ;  the  presbytery  cannot  but  testify  against 
them,  as  guilty  of  exercising  a  tyrannical  power  over  the 
heritage  of  the  Lord;  and  to  whom  may  too  justly  be  ap- 
plied, the  word  of  the  Lord,  spoken  by  his  prophet,  Isa. 
Ixvi,  5  :  "Your  brethren  that  hated  you,  that  cast  you  out 
for  my  name's  sake,  said,  Let  the  Lord  be  glorified :  but  he 
shall  appear  to  your  joy,  and  they  shall  be  ashamed.'* 
Wherefore,  and  for  all  the  foresaid  grounds,  the  jn-esbytery 
find  and  declare,  that  the  pretended  Associate  Presbytery, 
now  called  Synod^  whetlier  before  or  since,  in  their  separate 
capacity,  claiming  a  parity  of  power,  neither  were,  nor  are 
lawful  and  rightly  constituted  courts  of  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  according  to  his  word,  and  to  the  testimony  of  the 
true  Presbyterian  Covenanted  Church  of  Christ  in  Scotland: 
and  therefore  ought  not,  nay  cannot,  in  a  consistency  with 
bearing  a  faithful  testimony  for  the  covenanted  truths,  and 
cause  of  our  glorious  Redeemer,  be  countenanced  or  submitted 
to  in  their  authority  by  his  peo[)le. 

Again,  the  presbytery  find  themselves  in  duty  obliged  to 
testify  against  these  brethren  w^ho  some  time  ago  have 
broken  o.f  from  their  communion,  for  their  unwarrantable 
separation,  aud  continued  opposition  to  the  truth  and  testi- 


[158] 

mony,  in  the  hands  of  this  presbytery,  even  to  the  extent  of 
presuniino;,  in  a  judicial  capacity,  to  threaten  church  censure 
aiz:ainst   tlie  presbytery,  without  alleging  so  much  as  any 
other  reason  for  this  strange  procedure,  than  their  refusing 
to  approve  as   truth,  a  point  of  doctrine,  that  stands  con- 
demned by  the  standards  of  the  Keformed  Church  of  Scot- 
land, founded  on  the  authority  of  divine  revelation.     But, 
as  the  presbytery  have  formerly  published  a  vindication  of 
the  truth  maintained  by  them,  and  of  their  conduct,  respect- 
ino-   the   subject    matter   of  difference  with  their  quondam 
brethren,  they  refer  to  said  vindication,  for  a  more  particular 
discovery  of  the  error  of  their  principle,  and  extravagance 
of  their   conduct  in  this   matter.     And  particularly,  they 
testify  against  the  more  avowed  apostasy  of  some  of  these 
brethren,"  who  are  not  ashamed  to  declare  their  backslidings 
in  the  streets,  and  publish  them  upon  the  house  tops ;  as 
especially   appears  from   a   sermon    entitled.   Bigotry    Dis- 
claimed— together   with    the   vindication    of   said   sermon ; 
wherein  is  vented  such  a  loose  and  latitudinarian  scheme  of 
principles,  on  the  point  of  church  communion,  as  had  a  na- 
tive tendency  to  destroy  the  scriptural  boundaries  thereof, 
adopted  by  this  church  in  her  most  advanced  purity;  and 
which  is  also  inconsistent  with  the  ordination  vows,  whereby 
the  author  was  solemnly  engaged.     This,  with  other  differ- 
ences, best  known  to  themselves,  occasioned   a  rupture  in 
that  pretended  presbytery,  which  for  some  years  subsisted : 
but  tliis  breach  being  some  considerable  time  ago  again  ce- 
mented, they  constituted  themselves  in  their  former  capac- 
ity, upon  terms  (as  appears  from  a  printed  account  of  their 
agreement  and  constitution,  w^iich  they  have  never  yet  dis- 
ctaimed  as  unjust)  not  very  honorable  nor  consistent  with 
their  former  ])rinciples  and  professed  zeal  for  maintaining 
the  same.     AVhich  agreement  was  made  up,  without  any 
evidence  of  the  above  author's  retracting  his  lax  principles, 
contained  in  the  foresaid  sermon.     Whatever  was  the  cause, 
whether  from  the  influence  of  others  (as  was  said  by  the 
publisher  of  their  agreement),  or  from  a  consciousness  of 
dro[)ping  part  of  formerly  received  principles,  is  not  certain  ; 
but  one  of  these  brethren,  for  a  time,  gave  up  with  further 
l)ractical   communion    with    the   other,   namely,  Mr.  Hugh 
lanes,  late  of  the  Gallon,  Glasgow;  while  3^et  it  was  observed, 
that  both  used  a  freedom,  not  formerly  common  to  them, 
anent  the  present  authority,  in  their  public  immediate  ad- 
dresses to  the  object  of  worship ;  which  together  with  their 
a[)parent  resiling  from  part  of  their  former  testimony   occa- 
sioned stumbling  to  some  of  their  people,  and  terminated  in 


[159] 

the  separation  of  others.  Foresaid  latitudinarianism  and 
falling  away,  is  also  sadly  veritied,  in  the  conduct  of  another 
principal  meniher  of  their  pretended  presbj'tery,  who  has 
professedly  deserted  all  testimony  bearing  for  the  reforma- 
tion.principles  of  the  Covenanted  Church  of  Scotland.^ 

At  last,  after  their  declared  interviews  for  that  purpose, 
these  brethren  have  patched  up  a  mank  agreement,  which 
the}^  have  published,  in  a  paper  entitled  Abstract  of  the  cove- 
nanted 'principles  of  the  Church  of  Scotland,^  ^c,  with  a  pre- 
fixed advertisement  in  some  copies,  asserting  the  removal  of 
their  differences,  which  arose  from  a  sermon  on  Psal.  cxxii, 
3,  published  at  Glasgow^ — by  a  disapprobation  of  what  is 
impled  in  some  expressions  hereof,  viz  :  "  That  all  the  mem- 
bers of  Christ's  mystical  body  may,  and  ought  to  unite  in 
visible  church  communion." 

Here  is,  indeed,  a  smooth  closing  of  the  wound  that 
should  have  been  more  thoroughly  searched,  that,  by  prob- 
ing into  the  practical  application  of  said  sermon,  the  corrupt 
matter  of  communion  with  the  Revolution  Church,  in  the 
gospel  and  sealing  ordinance  thereof,  might  have  been  found 
out ;  but  not  one  word  of  this  in  all  that  abstract,  which 
contains  their  grounds  of  union,  and  terms  of  communion. 
Nothing  of  the  above  author's  recanting  his  former  latitud- 
inarian  practices  of  hearing,  and  thereby  practically  en- 
couraging, that  vagrant  Episcopalian,  Whitefield;  his  com- 
municating, which  natively  implies  union,  with  the  Revolu- 
tion Church,  in  one  of  the  seals  of  the  covenant ;  nor  his 
public  praying  for  an  Erastian  government,  in  a  way,  and 
for  a  reason,  tTiat  must  needs  be  understood  as  an  homologa- 
tion of  their  authority.  On  which  accounts,  the  presbytery 
testify  against  said  union,  as  being  inconsistent  with  faith- 
fulness in  the  cause  of  Christ ;  and  against  said  abstract,  as, 
however  containing  a  variety  of  particulars  very  just  and 
good,  yet  bearing  no  positive  adherence  to,  nor  particular 
mention  of,  faithful  wrestlings  and  testimonies  of  the  mar- 
tyrs and  witijesses  for  Scotland's  covenanted  cause.  As  also, 
they  testify  against  the  notorious  disingenuity  of  their  pro- 
bationer, who,  after  a  professed  dissatisfaction  on  sundry 
occasions,  with  the  declining  steps  of  said  brethren,  particu- 
larly with  the  disclaimer  against  bigotry,  has  overloolvcd 
more  weighty  matters,  and  embraced  a  probability  of  enjoy- 
ing the  long  grasped  for  privilege  of  ordination,  thougli  it 
should  be  observed,  at  a  greater  expense  than  that  of  disap- 
pointing the  expectation  of  a  few  dissatisfied  persons,  who 

■*  Mr.  JoJiii  Cameron,  then  a  probationer  and  clerk  to  their  presbytery. 


[160] 

depended  upon  his  honesty,  after  they  had  broken  up  com- 
munion witli  those  he  continues  still  to  pro fes.s  li is  subjection 
unto. 

And  furtlier,  the  presbytery  testify  against  the  adherents 
of  foresaid  brethren,  in  strengthening  their  hands  in  their 
course  of  separation  from  the  presbytery,  rejecting  both 
their  judicial  and  ministerial  authority,  and  the  ordinances 
of  the  gospel  dispensed  by  them.  And  more  especially,  the 
presbytery  condemn  the  conduct  of  such  of  them  as,  pro- 
fesseclly  dissatisiied  with  the  above  said  left-hand  extremes, 
and  other  defections  of  foresaid  brethren,  have  therefore 
broken  off  from  tbeir  communion  ;  yet,  instead  of  return- 
ing to  their  duty  in  a  way  of  subjecting  themselves  to  the 
courts  of  Christ,  and  ordinances  instituted  by  him  in  his 
church,  have  turned  back  again  to  their  own  right-hand  ex- 
tremes of  error,  which  once  they  professedly  gave  up,  but  now 
persist  in  an  obstinate  impugning  the  validity  of  their  minis- 
terial authority  and  potestative  mission,  undervalue  the  pure 
ordinances  of  the  gospel  dispensed  by  them,  and  live  as  if 
there  were  no  church  of  Christ  in  the  land,  where  they 
might  receive  the  seals  of  the  covenant,  either  to  themselves 
or  their  children  ;  and  therefore,  in  tlie  righteous  judgment 
of  God,  have  been  left  to  adopt  such  a  dangerous  and 
erroneous  system  of  principles,  as  is  a  disgrace  to  the  pro- 
fession of  the  covenanted  cause. ''^ 

*  These  people,  referred  to  above,  very  nnjustly  designate  themselves 
such  who  adhere  to  the  testimony  for  the  kingly  prerogative  of  ChrM.  They 
did  at  first,  before  their  agreement  with  the  presbytery,  and  ever  since 
their  elopement,  do  still  profess  to  appear  for  \vliat  they  call  An  Active 
Tesiimonp,  conform  to  the  rude  diaft  of  a  paper  cmmonly  known  l)y  the 
name  oi'  the  (ttueetisfeny  Paper  or  Covenant  (see  Cloud  of  WitJiesses,  Ap- 
pendix, page  270).  After  their  activity  had  carrietl  them  the  h-ngth  of 
avouching  the  most  inconsistent  anti-predestinarian,  Arminian  schemes  of 
univers:il  redemption,  and  not  only  to  a  total  separation  from  ihe  presby- 
tery, and  rejection  of  their  judicial  authority,  but  even  to  an  open  denial 
of  the  potestative  mission  ot  tlie  ministers  therein,  and  of  all  others  ;  the 
most  part  of  them  were,  in  God's  holy  and  righieous  justice,  left  to  receive 
and  submit  to  the  pretended  authority  and  ministrations  of  Willidm  Dun- 
net^  a  deceiver,  destitute  of  all  mission  and  authority,  whom  they  were 
afterward  obliged  to  al)an(lon.  In  1771,  they  published  a  pamphlet  en- 
titled, A  short  Abstract  of  their  Principles  and  Designs.  In  this  they 
cunningly  evade  the  acknowledgment  of  our  Confi-ssion  of  Faith  and 
(Jatechisms,  decline  to  own  the  diictrine  of  the  holy  Trinity  in  unity,  and 
do  professedly  adopt  and  avow  the  hyptjthesis  of  the  famous  modern  So- 
cinian,  Dr.  Taylor,  of  Norwich,  anent  the  person  of  Christ.  According 
to  which  he  is  no  more  than  "  a  glorious  being,  truly  created  by  God  be- 
fore the  world."  This  pre-existent  creatuie  they  call  a  superangelic 
spirit  ;  wliich  spirit,  coming  in  time  to  be  united  to  a  human  1)0(1\',  makes, 
according  to  them,  the  person  of  Christ.  A  person  neither  tru  y  God  nor 
truly  man,  but  a  sort  of  being  different  from  botli.  The  al)surdity  and 
blasphemy  of  this  hypothesis  needs  no  elucidation.  Thus  they  idola- 
trously  worship  another  god  than  the  Scripture  reveals,  and  blasphemously 


[161] 


SUPPLEMENT  TO  PART  III. 

Intended  to  show  the  applicution  of  our  Covenanted  Testimony  to  the 
existing  condition  of  society  in  the  United  States  of  North  America. 

Our  covenanted  progenitors,  who  survived  the  prelatic  per- 
secution in  Scotland,  being  bereft  of  a  gospel  ministry,  by  the 
martyrdom  of  the  pious  and  faithful  James  Renwick  (1688), 
continued  and  transm  tted  the  testimony  of  Jesus  Christ,  by 
meeting  for  social  worship  in  private  fellowships.  They  are 
hence  known  in  history  as — "  The  Society  People."  For  this 
kind  of  communion  they  found  sufficient  divine  warrant. 
Mai.  iii,  16  ;  Acts  xvi,  13.  Having  witnessed  faithfully  in 
their  trying  circumstances  against  the  apostasy  of  the  churches 
and  kingdoms  of  Scotland,  England  and  Ireland,  from  the 
Covenanted  Reformation  for  a  period  of  about  sixteen  years, 
they  gladly  welcomed  the  ministry  of  John  M'Millan,  thouo^h 
suspended  and  deposed  by  the  Revolution  Church  of  Scot- 
land. This  "little  reviving  in  their  bondage"  the  Lord 
vouchsafed  in  1706.  During  about  thirty  years,  Mr.  M'Mil- 
lan alone  bore  aloft  the  banner  inscribed  with  all  reform- 
ation attainments  ;  until  he  was  joined  by  Mr.  Thomas 
Nairn,  in  1743,  when  the  Reformed  Presbytery  was  iirst 
organized,  after  the  Revolution  Settlement  in  Scotland. 

In  the  year  1732,  some  ministers  separated  from  the  Revo- 
lution church  of  Scotland,  but  still  maintained  allegiance  to 
the  British  throne.  They  took  the  name  of  "Associate  Pres- 
bytery." Some  time  after  their  secession  from  the  Established 
Revolution  Church,  they  issued  a  Judicial  Testimony  ostens- 

substitute  and  trust  in  another  savior  than  the  gospel  offers  unto  sinners. 
In  the  same  pamphlet  lliey  declare  and  publish  their  resolution  to  take 
some  of  tlieir  number  under  formal  trials,  whom,  upon  being  approved, 
they  miglit  a])point  and  send  forth  to  preach  the  gospel  and  administer  the 
ordinrinces  of  it.  And  all  which  they  have  accordingly  done,  to  the  great 
dishonor  of  God,  reproach  of  religion,  and  the  profession  of  it. 

And  now,  from  the  above  principles  and  practices,  the  reader  may  justly 
conclude  how  unworthily  these  christians  (if  they  may  be  called  such)  pro- 
fess to  stand  up  for  the  royal  i)rerogatives  of  Christ.  What  an  arrogant 
and  presumptuous  invasion  upon,  and  usurpation  of,  the  powers  and  pre- 
rogatives of  this  glori(ms  King,  for  any  mortal  to  assume  "to  appoint  and 
call  men,"  noiio  Vcm  work  (which  yet  is  all  that  the  Church  of  Christ, 
according  to  the  will  of  God,  and  her  privileges  from  Christ  her  head, 
ev^er  claimed),  but  to  the  very  power  and  office  of  the  holy  ministry,  "aiui 
to  instdll  them  in  it.''  Besides,  that  their  doctrine  as  to  Christ's  person, 
which  denies  his  divine  nature  and  sonship,  saps  the  very  foundat.ons  of 
that  •^il\^\  Q.\\  his  other  offices.  We  would,  therefore,  yet  beseecli  them,  by 
the  mercies  of  God,  ''to  repent  them  of  all  their  wickedness,  and  to  pray 
God,  if  perhaps  the  thoughts  of  their  heart  may  be  forgiven  them." 


[162] 


ibly  for  the  whole  of  the  Covenanted  Reformation,  in  which 
testimony  were  .contained  severe  strictures  on  the  Eefornied 
Presbytery's  princi[)les  on  magistracy.  These  strictures 
furnished  occasion  for  what  is  known  in  history  as  "  The  Se- 
cession Controversy."  Besides  wliat  is  contained  in  the  fore- 
going Ad^  DcclaratioiR,  and  Tfstiinoyiy^  first  emitted  at  IMough- 
landhead,  Scotland,  in  1761,  the  reader  is  referred  to  some 
replies  made  to  said  strictures,  presenting  arguments  in  de- 
fence of  the  Reformed  Presbytery's  position  on  civil  govern- 
ment, logical,  scriptural,  and  hitherto  unanswered."^ 

Prior  to  the  Revolut  on,  by  which  the  British  colonies  in 
America  became  the  United  States,  a  ])resbytery  had  been 
constituted  in  this  country  by  three  ministers,  Messrs.  John 
Cuthbertson,  William  Linn,  and  Alexander  Dobbin,  with 
ruling  elders,  in  1774.  The  Revolutionary  war  carried  away 
many  Covenanters  from  their  distinctive  principles ;  and  in 
consequence  the  presbytery  was  dissolved.  Those  three  min- 
isters, joining  with  some  of  the  Seceders,  formed  a  new  body, 
which  assumed  the  name  ''  Associate  Reformed  Church." 
This  union  was  efiected  in  1782,  after  tive  years' negotiation. 
Founded  in  comjiromise  of  distinctive  principle  on  both 
sides,  and  minorities  refusing  to  concur,  the  boasted  union 
made  three  churches  out  of  two!  As  a  basis  of  union,  the  new 
body  |)rofessed  to  receive  the  Westminter  tbrmular  es.  At 
the  time  of  uniting,  certain  sections  of  the  Confession  were 
reservai  for  future  d  scussion  ;  which  in  jirocess  of  time  were 
rejected,  as  they  had  previously  heen  hy  the  General  Assem- 
bly and  other  denominations.  This  attack  upon  the  Confes- 
sion was  zealously  oi)posed  by  two  ministers  in  the  body, 
Messrs.  M'Coy  and  Warwick,  who  se})arated  from  that  com- 
munion, forming  a  new  organization,  styled  "  Reformed 
Dissenting  Presbytery."  In  1808,  this  party  issued  what 
they  called  a  '"•  Narrative  and  Testimony  ;"  in  which  docu- 
ment. Psalmody  and  Toleration  were  treated  with  commen- 
dable tidel  ty,  if  with  limited  erudition. 

TJje  Reformed  Presbytery,  which  had  been  dissolved  by 
the  defection  of  Messrs.  Cuthbertson,  Linn,  and  Dobbin,  was 

*  The  Divine  Institution  and  Riirlit  of  the  Civil  Afaiiistrate  Vindicated, 
1773,  by  JohnTliorbiirn:  Answers  to  Twelve  Queries,  etc.,  by  Wu).  Stevin, 
17i)4:  An  Hunilde  Attempt,  in  Defence  of  Kelbnimtion  Principbs  on  the 
Head  of  the  Civil  Maiiisiiate,  A:c.,  by  John  Fairly:  Truth  no  Enemy  to 
Peace:  or,  Animadversions  on  Flet(  h<r's  Difence  ol  his  Scripture  Loyalist, 
by  .John  Kei«l,  ITUt):  The  Mystery  of  Magistracy  Unvailed:  or,  God'sOrdi- 
uance  of  M.igisiracy — Vindicated  from  lleathenisb  Doniinion,  Tyrannous, 
and  Anti-Christian  Usurpation,  Dospisers  of  Dignities,  &c.,  1708,  repriuted 
1795. 


[163] 

reorganized  in  the  Spring  of  1789,  by  Messrs.  James  M'Kin- 
neyand  William  Gibson,  with  ruling  elders.  While  tlie 
rennumt  were  destitute  ofpresbyterial  supervision,  Mr.  James 
Keid  was  sent  over  I)}'  the  Reformed  Presbytery  of  Scotland  ; 
and  after  having  travelled  from  South  Carolina  to  New  York 
*"•  strengthening  the  things  that  remained,  that  were  ready  to 
die,"  he  returned  to  Europe  in  the  summer  of  1790.^ 

About  the  close  of  the  eighteenth  century,  some  Covenant- 
ers joined  the  United  Ir.shmen,  to  emancipate  themselves 
from  the  British  tlirone.  This  enterprise  [)roved  abortive, 
as  might  have  been  expected,  being  in  violation  ot  the 
divine  law  and  their  own  vows.  (Is.  viii,  11,  12.)  Many  of 
them  tied  to  America  as  an  asylum,  by  which  means  the 
Covenanted  church  was  increased  in  this  land.  Among  the 
immigrants  were  Rev.  William  Gibson,  Messrs.  S.  B.  Wylie 
and  John  Black,  the  latter  two  being  alumni  of  Glasgovv 
University;  and,  together  with  Alexander  M'Leod  and 
Thomas  iJonnelly,  were  shortly  afterward  inducted  into  the 
ministry  and  received  as  constituent  members  of  the  Reformed 
l*resbytery.  In  the  year  1804,  the  measure  was  ad«)pted  of 
framing  a  document  which  was  intended  to  supplant  the 
Scottish  Testimony.  It  was  designated  Refom^ation  Prin- 
ciples Exhibittd^  and  was  designed  to  be  thenceforward  one 
of  the  conditions  of  church  fellowship  in  the  United  States. 
This  was  a  divisive  measure,  tending  to  sever  the  tie  which 
had  hitherto  connected  the  children  in  this  laud,  with  the 
mother  church  in  Europe.  In  process  of  time,  this  tendency 
became  fully  developed  by  some  joining  in  the  war  of  1812. 
The  men  who  liad  the  principal  hand  in  giving  shai)e  to  this 
document,  though  respectable  for  talents  and  literature,  were 
young  in  years,  and  comparative  novices,  not  having  been 
trained  in  the  fellowship  of  the  Reformed  Presbyterian 
Church.  Settled  in  pastoral  charges  in  some  of  the  com- 
mercial cities  of  the  land,  these  men  were  surrounded  with 
temjttations  many  and  pressing,  and  a  disposition  to  tempo- 
rize was  manifested  by  them  soon  after  their  principles  had 
been  exhibited.  Tliey  began  to  be  noticed  with  respect  and 
p)rofessions  of  esteem  by  tlie  ministers  of  otlier  churches. 
As  a  natural  consequence  of  familiarity  with  more  corrupt 
denominations,  a  motion  was  made,  in  1823,  to  ojien  corre- 
spoiidence  with  the  judicatories  of  other  churches.  This 
motion  was  resisted,  and  for  the  time   defeated.     At  next 

*  This  is  that  James  Reid  who  published  The  Lives  of  the  WeHminnter 
BivineM,  who  separated  from  the  Keform«.-d  Prtsbyterian  Synod  of  Scotland 
whi-n,  in  lti22,  the  Tenus  of  Communion  were  clmnied;  and  whose  adhe- 
rents are  yet  known  by  the  reproachful  name — "  Auclieusaugh  people." 


[164] 

meeting,  a  measnre  was  brought  before  the  body  (which  in 
1809  had  become  a  Synod),  by  a  proposal  from  the  General 
Assembly  of  the  i^resbyterian  Church,  to  correspond  by  dele- 
gation. This  proposal  found  advocates,  but  was  also  defeated. 
Immediately  after  the  failure  of  this  measure,  a  number  of 
the  junior  ministers  forsook  the  reformation  ranks,  and  most 
of  them  consorted  with  the  General  Assembly. 

In  the  year  1828,  the  Synod  gave  its  sanction  to  the  Col- 
onization Society,  a  scheme  devised  for  removing  the  free 
people  of  color  to  Africa,  that,  this  disturbing  element  being 
gradually  removed,  their  sable  brethren  might  be  more  se- 
curely and  legally  hekl  in  bondage.  This  policy  prevailed  in 
Synod  till  1836,  when  its  patronage  was  transferred  to  the 
"  Cause  of  Abolition."  During  this  period,  the  spirit  of  de- 
clension still  progressing,  in  the  year  1831,  some  otUhe  most 
distinctive  and  practical  principles  of  the  church  were  openly 
thrown  into  debate  in  the  pages  of  a  monthly  periodical, 
under  the  head  of  ''Free  Discussion."  Through  the  corrupt- 
ing influence  of  that  journal,  patronized  by  eminent  min- 
isters, a  large  proportion  —  nearly  one-half —  of  the  min- 
istry were  prepared  at  next  meeting  of  Synod,  in  1833, 
to  renounce  the  peculiar  principles  and  long  know^n  usages 
of  the  church.  Organizing  themselves  as  a  separate  bod}^, 
yet  claiming  the  historical  and  honorable  name — lieformed 
Presbyterian  Churchy  they  deliberately,  and  soon  after  avow- 
edly, incorporated  wuth  the  national  society  ;  and  some  of 
the  senior  ministers,  in  their  old  age,  more  fully  to  evidence 
their  loyalty  to  a  government,  against  whose  infidelity  and 
oppression  they  had  long  testified,  took  the  oath  of  natarali- 
zation — thus  breaking  down  the  carved  work  which  they  had 
previously  and  painfully  labored  to  build.     Gal.  ii,  18. 

By  the  disruption  of  1833,  some  fondly  hoped  that  the 
church  was  now  purged  of  the  leaven  w^hich  had  been  in 
operation  all  along  s.nce  the  adoption  of  i?(/or/>ia^ion  Prin- 
ciples Exhibited.  At  the  first  meeting,  however,  after  the 
disruption,  a  perverse  spirit  was  manifest  among  members  of 
the  Synod,  1831.  The  altercation  and  bitterness  with  which 
the  rival  claims  of  the  Colonization  and  Abolition  societies 
w^ere  discussed,  evidenced  to  those  who  were  free  from  the  in- 
fection of  these  and  other  associations — the  exfoliations  of 
Anti-Christ — that  some  of  those  present  viewed  these  pop- 
ular movements  as  transcending  in  importance  the  covenanted 
testimony  of  the  church  ;  and  hence,  as  the  j)ractice  of  occa- 
sional hearing  was  on  the  increase.  Synod,  when  memorial- 
ized on  the  subject,  refused  to  declare  ''  the  law  of  the  house." 

The  spirit  of  conformity  to  the  world  became  more  mani- 


[165] 

fest  at  the  next  meeting,  when  Synod  was  importuned  from 
East  and  West,  by  petition,  memorial,  protest,  and  appeal, 
growing  out  of  the  increasing  practice  of  ministers  and  people 
incorporating  with  the  voluntary  associations  of  the  age. 
Tlie  response  to  those  pajDers  given  by  Synod,  was  as  ambi- 
guous as  on  any  former  occasion.  A  minority,  however,  re- 
sisted the  factious  course  of  the  majority,  and  some  dissents 
were  recorded,  wdiile  others  were  refused  merely  on  technical 
ground.  Hope  was  cherished  that  this  check,  so  publicly 
given,  together  with  the  visibly  demoralizing  effects  of  mcM'al 
amalgamation,  so  contrary  to  the  divine  law  and  the  foot- 
steps' of  the  tlock,  would  induce  even  reckless  innovators  to 
pause.  This  hope,  however  rational  and  sanguine,  was  to- 
tally dissipated  in  1838,  when  Synod's  table  was  literally 
crowded  with  the  letters, petitions,  remonstrances,  memorials, 
protests,  and  appeals  of  a  reclaiming  people.  The  grievances 
of  the  children  of  witnessing  and  martyred  ancestors,  w^ere 
treated  with  the  utmost  contempt — ■''  laid  on  the  table — re- 
turned," with  the  cry — "  let  them  be  kicked  under  the  table," 
&c.  And  when  some  attempted  to  urge  their  right  to  be 
heard,  they  were  called  to  order,  treated  with  personal  insult, 
or  subjected  to  open  violence.  While  the  elements  of  a  pop- 
ular mob  were  visible  all  over  the  assembly — mingled  cries 
of ''Order,  Moderator  ! — put  them  out  1 — bring  the  constable  I" 
were  heard;  and  two  members,  Messrs.  Sharpe  and  Bartley, 
were  forcibly  pushed  along  two  aisles  of  the  house  of  wor- 
ship, until  the  coat  of  the  latter  was  torn  on  his  back  1 
Amidst  the  uproar  which  prevailed,  the  question  spontan- 
eously arose  in  some  hearts,  "  Is  the  Lord  among  us,  or  not?" 

When  Synod  met  in  1840,  the  same  measures  which  had 
been  carried  by  mob  violence  at  the  previous  meeting,  were 
pressed  as  before,  but  with  less  v.olence  and  tunmlt,  leaders 
having  learned  caution  from  some  consequences  resulting 
from  their  former  outrageous  conduct. 

Matters  had  now  come  to  a  crisis,  when  a  reclaiming  min- 
ority were  reduced  to  the  dilemma — either  quietly  to  ac- 
quiesce in  the  practical  subversion  of  the  Covenanted  Con- 
stitution of  the  church;  or,  by  a  separate  organization, 
attempt  to  make  up  the  breach,  made  by  an  irreclaimable 
majority.  Which  alternative  was  duty,  may  be  ascertained 
both  from  the  nature  of  the  case,  and  from  the  well-detined 
footsteps  of  the  Hock.  Reformation  in  the  church  has  ever 
been  effected  by  the  protestation  and  separation  of  a  virtu- 
ous minority.  At  this  juncture,  a  paper  was  publicly  read 
in  court  by  one  of  the  members,  as  a  final  test  of  the  Synod's 
purpose,  and  as  exhausting  all  legal  means  of  arresting  de- 
fection.    Of  said  paper  a  true  copy  is  here  given : — 


[166] 

"  PREAMBLE    AND   RESOLUTIONS. 

u  'Whereas^  It  is  tlie  province  and  indispensable  duty  of  this 
Synod,  wlien  society  is  in  a  state  of  agitation  as  at  j^resent, 
to  know  tlie  signs  of  tlie  times,  and  what  Israel  ougbt  to 
do ;  and  whereas,  it  is  also  the  duty  of  this  Synod,  to  testify 
in  behalf  of  truth  ;  to  condemn  sin  and  testify  against 
those  who  commit  it ;  to  acquaint  our  jieople  with  their 
danger,  and  search  into  the  causes  of  God's  controversy 
with  them  and  with  us  ;  and  whereas,  it  is  the  duty  of 
Synod  further,  to  point  out  to  the  ]  eople  of  God  the  course 
to  be  pursued,  that  divine  judgments  may  be  averted  or 
removed — therefore,  Resolved^ 

"1.  That  uniting  with,  or  inducing  to  fellowship,  by  the 
members  of  the  Heformed  I^rcsbyterian  Church,  in  the  vol- 
untary and  irresjionsible  associations  of  the  day — composed 
of  persons  of  all  religious  professions  and  of  no  profession — 
be  condemned,  as  unwarranted  by  the  word  of  God,  the  sub- 
ordinate standards  of  the  church,  and  the  practice  of  our 
covenanted  fathers. 

"2.  Ihat  an  inquiry  be  instituted,  in  order  to  ascertain 
the  grounds  of  the  Lord's  controversy  with  us,  in  the  sins 
of  omission  and  commission  wherewith  we  are  chargeable 
in  our  ecclesiastical  relations.* 

"3.  That  the  sins  thus  ascertained  be  confessed,  mourned 
over,  and  forsaken,  and  our  engagement  to  the  contrary  du- 
ties renewed  ;  that  the  Lord  may  return,  be  entreated  of  his 
people,  and  leave  a  blessing  behind  him."t 

Ihis  paj  er  was,  on  motion,  instantly  "laid  on  the  table;" 
and  when  at  a  subsequent  sitting  of  the  court,  it  was  regu- 
larly called  up  for  action,  it  was  again  and  finally  "laid  on 
the  table."  Ever  since,  that  paper  has  been  diligently  mis- 
rejircsented,  as  consisting  of  the  frst  resolution  only,  con- 
tiary  to  the  evidence  on  its  own  face  ;  and  many  similar 
misrc})re?entations  have  been  long  circulated  by  the  back- 
sliding majority. 

Those  members  of  Synod  wlio  had  opposed   innovations 

*  It  was  well-known  to  Synod,  tliat  New  Light  ministers  from  America 
— some  oClhem  under  siisju'rision — hiul  occiij^ied  the  pidjtits  of  Old  Liglits, 
in  Irel:ind— tlijit  ot  Uev.  Dr.  Bt:ively  in  iiarticular.  When  chidleniied  by 
a  number  of  Ills  Session  for  suth  disorder,  the  Dr.  re])lied  in  snbslanee, 
"I  did  it  fr(  m  self-resi>ect." — "But  not  out  of  respect  for  Christ,"  re- 
joined the  elder. 

f  This  document  is  thus  inserted  entire,  in  peiyetuam  rei  memoriam, 
and  !is  a  summary  of  the  numerous  ]iapcrs  from  ministers,  elders,  and 
meml  ers,  which  had  been  presented  to  the  several  judicatories  during  the 
preceding  seven  years  ! 


[167] 

and  defections,  resided  so  far  apart  (hundreds  of  miles),  that 
they  had  no  opportunities  for  consultation  or  concerted 
action,  except  at  tlie  meeting  of  Synod.  A  few  of  them, 
however,  after  the  final  adjournment,  came  together  from 
their  lodgings  in  the  adjacent  cit  es  of  Pittsburgh  and  Alle- 
gheny. When  met,  it  ap]>eared  that,  without  pre-concert, 
they  were  unanimous  in  judgment,  that,  all  legal  means 
having  failed  to  reclaim  their  backsliding  brethren,  their 
present  duty  was  to  assume  a  position  independent  of  exist- 
ing organizations,  that  they  might,  untrammeled,  carry  out 
practically  their  covenanted  testimony.  Accordingly,  two 
ministers  and  three  ruling  elders  did  proceed  to  constitute 
the  Reformed  Presbytery,  in  the  city  of  Allegheny,  Juue 
24th,  1840,  as  the  foilowing  document  bears  : — 

DEED  OF  CONSTITUTION. 

We,  the  undersisned,  ministers  and  elders  of  the  Reformed  Presbyterian 
Chur(h  in  North  America,  familiar  with,  and  havini^  long  witnessed  de- 
clension in  ihe  aforesaid  ehiirch,  and  employed  all  other  scriptural  means 
to  stay  its  progress  without  effect:  Also  recognizing  the  claims  of  the  Lord 
Jesus  Chiist,  and  of  all  such  as  desire  to  be  faithful;  compassionating  the 
condition  of  those  who,  b}' unholy  confederacies,  are  still  "enlanuled  in 
the  wilderness:"  considering  the  necessities  of  others,  who,  to  maintain  a 
good  conscience,  have  been  constrained  to  unite  in  the  ".safety  League," 
■which  covers  the  whole  ground  of  our  covenanted  system: — Do  now, 
trusting  to  the  faithfulness  of  the  God  of  our  fathers,  and  relying  on  the 
strength  of  promised  grace;  afler  the  examj)le  of  tlie  venerable  Rev.  Wil- 
liam Gibson,  who  "kept  the  faith," — enter  and  record  our  solemn  protes- 
Uition  against  the  aforesaid  church,  because  she  has  corrupted  the  doctrines 
and  worship,  and  prostituted  the  government  and  discipline  of  the  house 
of  God;  and  we  do  hereby  decline  the  authority  of  all  her  judicatories. 

We  acknowledge  the  supreme  auihority  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the 
only  King  and  Head  of  his  church;  tlie  binding  ohligation  of  the  solemn 
deeds  of  our  covenanted  forefathers — resting  upcm  our  souls,  by  our  own, 
voluntary  engagements,  viz:  besides  the  word  of  God,  the  Westnunster 
Confession  of  F.dth,  Catechisms,  larger  and  shoiter,  the  Director}'  for 
Worshij),  as  they  were  received  by  the  Church  of  Scotland  in  her  purest 
times,  i.  e.  between  tlie  years  1688  and  4'J  inclusive,  the  Covenants,  Na- 
tional and  Solemn  League,  Reformation  Principles  Exhibited,  in  agree- 
ableness  to  the  aforesaid  Standards;  together  with  the  faithful  contendings 
of  our  covenanted  fathers:  in  a  word — all  the  documents  contemplated, 
regarded,  and  as  engaged  unto  in  the  Terms  of  Ecclesiastical  Communion 
in  the  Reformed  Piesljyteriau  Church. 

In  virtue  of,  and  in  accordance;  with,  the  aforesaid  principles  and  decla- 
rations, we  unite  and  agree  to  continue  a  Presbytery. 

Done  in  Allegheny  Town^    \  David  Steele, 

June  27th,  1840.  )  Robert  Ldsk, 

Wm.  M'Kinley, 
Wm.   Wylie, 
Nathan  Johnston. 

The  declining  party  continued  in  their  course  of  defection, 
pursuing  those  who  had  relinquished  their  schismatic  fel 


[168] 

lowship,  as  is  usual  in  such  cases,  with  slanderous  imputa- 
tions and  pretended  censure.  During  the  last  quarter  of  a 
century,  their  ])rogressive  conformity  to  surrounding  com- 
munities has  been  "accelerated,  so  that  their  practical  traits 
are  contradictory  to  their  pretensions,  as  will  afterwards 
more  fully  appear. 

The  Reformed  Tresbyterian  Synod  of  Scotland,  as  early 
as  1815,  began  to  give  evidence  of  declension.  In  1822,  the 
Auchensaugh  Deed  was  expunged  from  tlieir  Terms  of  Com- 
munion. This  unfaithful  act  was  the  formal  ground  of  sep- 
aration by  the  oldest  m  nister,  the  aforementioned  Mr.  James 
Reid,  who  continued  ''faithful  unto  death,"  declaring  at  his 
latter  end,  that  "  he  could  not  have  laid  his  head  upon  a 
dying  ]»illow  in  peace  if  he  had  not  acted  as  he  did  in  that 
matter." 

Deaf  to  the  remonstrances  of  this  aged  minister  and  tried 
witness  for  Christ's  injured  cause,  both  in  America  and  his 
native  land,  the  majority  pursued  the  course  of  defection, 
until    in  1837  they  remodeled  their   Testimony ;  and  now 
(1876)  they  abandon  it  altogether,  taking  refuge  in  the  Gen- 
eral   Assembly  of  the  Free   church.     From  this  same  Re- 
formed Presbyterian  Synod  of  Scotland,  Dr.  John  Cunning- 
ham, missionary  to  the  Jews  in  London,  separated  in  1859^ 
on  similar  ground  as  Mr.  Reid,  and  like  him,  kept  the  faith 
till  his  death.     A  few  other  ministers  withdrew  from  the 
majority  in  1863,  on  valid   grounds  indeed,  but  failed  to 
reach  the  elevation  of  our  noble  martyrs,  fully  occupied  by 
Mr.   Reid  and  Dr.  Cunningham.     This  minority    claimed^ 
and  it  continues  to  claim,  the  sy nodical  powers  of  the  orig- 
inal body  ;  and  it  has  been  recognized  as  such  by  the  so- 
called   Old  Light  Synods  of  America  and  Ireland ;  both  of 
which  Synods  declined  to  recognize  Mr.  Reid  or  Dr.  Cun- 
ningham,  preferring   fellowship   with    the    Scottish   Synod 
when  it  was  confessedly  ''  rotten   to   the    core."     Had    not^ 
then,  the  members  of   the  Relormed  Rresbytery,  while  in 
Synod,  just  cause  for  asking  in  tlieir  2d  resolution  already- 
recited,  an  "  inquiry  into  our  ecclesiastical  relations  ?" 

This  brief  historical  sketch  may  serve  to  show  the  out- 
lines of  the  courses  pursued  resjiectively  by  the  several  par- 
ties in  the  British  Isles  and  America,  who  have  made  the 
most  plausible  professions  of  attachment  to  that  work  in  the 
kingdom  of  Scotland  especially,  which  has  been  called  the 
Second  Reformation.  Other  parties,  however,  have  appeared 
in  this  country,  wiio  have  long  claimed  to  share  the  honor 
of  the  term  Reformed.  Negotiations  were  conmienced  for 
organic  union  by  four  of  these,  viz :    The  Associate  Synody 


[169] 

Associate  Reformed  Synod,  General  Synod  of  Reformed 
Presbyterians  (New  Lights),  and  Reformed  Dissenting  Pres- 
bytery. After  some  conventional  meetings,  the  last  two 
named  withdrew  from  any  further  negotiations,  but  the  first 
two  effected  what  they  called  a  union;  while  spectators 
viewed  the  matter  rather  as  an  absor})tion  of  the  Associate 
by  the  Associate  Reformed  body.  This  was  effected  in 
1858,  and  shortly  before  this  coalescense,  the  Reformed  Dis- 
senting Presbytery  had  become  extinct. 

But  fidelity  to  Zion's  King,  as  well  as  charity  to  these 
backsliding  parties,  and  the  informing  of  the  present  and 
future  generations,  require  us  to  notice  more  formally  some 
of  the  prominent  measures  of  these  ecclesiastical  bodies,  and 
thus  manifest  more  fully  their  relations  respectively  to  the 
Covenanted  Reformation.  It  is  not  to  be  expected  by  the 
reader,  however,  that  all  the  erroneous  principles  or  steps  of 
defection,  supplied  by  the  history  of  these  communities,  can 
be  noticed  in  fhis  Appendix.  To  direct  the  honest  inquiries 
of  those  who  love  divine  truth,  and  to  assist  them  in  that 
process  of  reasoning  by  which  facts  are  compared  with 
acknowledged  Standards,  supreme  and  subordinate,  that 
their  morat  character  may  be  tested,  is  all  that  is  proposed  in 
the  following  sections : — 

Section  I.  Those  who  separated  from  the  Revolution 
Church  of  Scotland,  in  the  former  part  of  the  eighteenth 
century,  and  disregarded  the  unrighteous  censures  inflicted 
by  their  brethren  in  the  church,  still  held  allegiance  to  the 
civil  powers,  which  controlled  and  corrupted  the  church. 
This  practical  inconsistency  on  the  part  of  the  first  Seceders, 
necessitated  an  attempt  at  argumentative  defense.  Assuming 
as  axiomatic,  that  the  popular  will,  or  consent  of  a  majority, 
legitimates  any  and  every  magistracy,  logical  reasoning 
drove  them  to  erroneous  conclusions;  as.  That  Christ  as 
Mediator  does  not  rule  the  nations:  that  believers  do  not 
owe  to  him  temporal  blessings.  Gen.  xiii,  17  ;  Rom.  iv,  13. 
They,  moreover,  professed  adherence  to  the  whole  of  the 
covenanted  reformation,  and  even  to  renew  the  Covenants, 
National  and  Solemn  League,  while  professing  allegiance  to 
the  British  throne,  which  overthrew  the  reformation  !  Their 
brethren  in  America  assisted  the  Colonies  in  their  successful 
resistance  to  British  oppression;  to  resist  which  on  the  other 
side  of  the  Atlantic,  was  a  damnable  sin  1  They  have^ 
indeed,  in  this  land  consistently  renounced  the  civil  part  of 
the  covenants,  declaring  that  "  with  this  part  they  neither 
have,  nor  ever  had  any  thing  to  do,"  thereby  insinuating 
that  the   oblisration   of  the  "second  table   of  the  moral  law 


[170  J 

changes,  or  may  be  abrogated,  by  change  in  the  local  habita- 
tion of  Christians.  By  the  acknowledged  piety  and  learning 
of  iSeeeders,  both  in  the  British  Isles  and  America,  their 
advocacy  of  these  fundamental  errors  for  more  than  a 
century,  has  given  them  more  currency  and  credit,  than  they 
ever  received  perhaps  from  any  other  denomination.  In  charity 
to  these  brethren,  we  are  constrained  to  continue  the  testimony 
heretofore  borne  ao:ainst  them ;  for  doctrinally  and  practi- 
cally corrupting  the  divine  ordinance  of  civil  government. 

ISec.  II.  A  large  majority  of  the  Associate  and  Associate 
Keformed  churches,  having  formed  a  union  in  1858,  as  above 
stated,  by  which  an  additional  sect  was  created,  the  parties 
contracting  came  together  upon  a  ''  Basis  of  Union,"  which 
some  of  the  leaders  described  as  a  ''  bridge  over  which  the 
jtarties  might  come  together,  and  to  be  demolished  as  soon  as 
the  union  was  consummated."  However,  as  the  Associate 
fragment  insisted  upon  having  a  judicial  testimony,  the 
majority  gratified  them  so  far  as  to  designate  the  basis  of 
union  by  the  im[)Osing  name — ''Testimony  of  the  United 
Presbyterian  Church."  This  so-called  testimony  differs  in 
its  integral  parts,  and  as  a  whole,  from  any  preceding  docu- 
ments of  that  name.  In  the  range  of  doctrinal  declarations 
it  is  very  limited;  and  it  professes  to  allow  any  member  of 
the  body  to  oppose  any  of  the  Standards,  only  provided  he 
does  not  "  determinedly  oppose."  It  also  explicitly  excludes 
argument,  and  the  proofs  from  Scripture  by  which  the 
doctrines  are  supported,  from  the  conditions  of  fellowship  in 
the  body.  Consequently  their  testimony  is,  in  practice,  no 
better  than  a  rope  of  sand.  This  has  become  manifest  in  the 
case  of  Freemasonry,  &c.  On  Toleration,  Church  Fellow- 
ship, Psalmody,  Covenanting,  Family  Worship,  Ecclesiasti- 
cal Government  and  Discipline,  this  body  is  further 
degenerated  than  either  of  the  parties  of  which  it  was 
composed.  We  therefore  testify  against  these  'brethren, 
not  only  because  of  defection  from  a  Scriptural  reformation, 
but  also  because  they  notoriously  violate  with  impunitj' 
their  own  acknowledged  terms  of  fellowship. 

Sec.  III.  The  Reformed  Dissenting  Presbytery  embraced 
more  of  the  distinctive  principles  of  the  covenanted  reforma- 
tion than  either  of  the  |)arties  above  noticed.  On  the  doc- 
trines of  magistracy  and  toleration,  abstractly  considered, 
they  manifested,  commendable  fidelit3^  By  separating  in 
law  the  re[)resentative  from  his  constituency  in  civil  relations^ 
thev  claimed  it  as  their  right  to  choose  their  civil  rulers, 
while  they  maintained  that  to  fill  the  office  themselves 
would  be  sinful !  Thus,  *'  having  no  root,  they  withered 
away." 


[171] 

Sec.  IY.  Those  who,  in  1833,  openly  avowed  themselves 
in  favor  of  the  Constitution  and  Government  of  the  United 
States,  in  conlbmiity  to  their  interpretation  of  Beformation 
l^rinri-pUs  Exhibited,  and  who  separated  from  the  majority, 
erected  sejtarate  judicatories,  and  claimed  the  identity  and 
name  of  the  original  body!  As  their  incor[)oration  with 
the  civil  institutions  of  the  land  leaves  them  without  any 
distinctive  princi[>los  from  some  surrounding  denominations, 
their  claims  are  preposterous.  Their  plighted  allegiance, 
however,  to  the  government  of  the  United  States  is  a  palpable 
violation  of  the  Solemn  League,  which  limits  allegiance  to 
civil  sovereignty,  in  the  "preservation  and  defence  of  the 
true  religion."  As  in  most  other  churches,  discipline  is 
greatly  relaxed. 

Sec.  V.  With  those  mentioned  in  the  preceding  section, 
may  be  classed  the  Eastern  Synod  of  Ireland,  and  the  Ma- 
jority Synod  of  Scotland,^  which  parties,  since  the  adoption 
of  their  new  Terms  and  Testinjony,  in  1822  and  1837,  have 
been  incorporated  with  the  immoral  and  anti-christian  gov- 
ernment of  Great  Britain,  co-operating  with  that  horn  of 
the  beast,  still  guilty  and  red  with  the  precious  blood  of  our 
martyred  fathers.  Length  of  time  does  not  expiate  the  guilt 
contracted  by  shedding  the  innocent  blood  of  Christ's  faithful 
witnesses.  Matt,  xxili,  25  ;  Ileb.  xii,  24.  On  both  sides  of 
the  Atlantic, therefore, these  three  parties  are  to  be  classified — 
for  they  have  avowedly  classitied  themselves — with  that 
''world  who  wonder  after  the  beast,"  Rev.  xiii,  3,  against 
wh(se  blasi)hemous  claims  Christ's  witnesses  are  called  to 
testify  during  1260  years,  ch.  xi,  3. 

Sec.  VI.  Against  that  party  in  the  three  nations,  Scot- 
land, Ireland,  and  America,  commonly  but  improperly  called 
Old  Lights,  we  are  obliged  to  testify  more  pointedly,  than 
against  any  other  party  claiming  to  be  Reformed  Pres- 
byterians. First,  Because  we  believe  there  are  still 
among  them  real  Covenanters  in  their  private  faith,  as  there 
were  among  the  ten  tribes  of  Israel ;  and  in  proportion,  a 
greater  number  than  in  any  other  fellowship.  Second, 
Because  their  leaders  make  the  fairest  show  in  the  flesh,  and 
calculating  upon  spiritual  sloth  and  the  force  of  confirmed 
habit,  still  ho[)e  to  lead  honest  people  insensibly  into  Egypt. 
Such  honest  ones,  who  are  "wandering  from  mountain  to 
hill,  forgetting  their  resting  [)lace,"  we  would  aim  to  unde- 
ceive, if  the  Lord  will ;  for  we  earnestly  desire  renewed 
fellowship  with  all  such  on  original  ground. 

*This  body  is  now  extinct. 


[172] 

I.  In  Reformation  Pinnciples  Exhibited^  the  formal  nature 
of  a  judicial  testimony  was  changed.  History  and  argu- 
ment were  excluded  from  the  Terms  of  Oonimunion:  but 
these  are  the  essential  elements  of  a  faitliful  Testimony. 
The  Eeformed  Presbytery  did  therefore,  in  1840,  declare 
adherence  to  so  much  of  J{.  F.  Exhibited  as  is  comprised  in 
the  '^ Historical  View"  from  1761  till  1840.  This  is  the 
import  of  the  words  used  at  the  latter  date — ''  in  agreeable- 
ness  to  the  aforesaid  Standards."  The  exclusion  of  history 
and  argument  has  opened  a  floodgate  for  error,  alienation 
and  se[»aration  among  professed  Covenanters  for  the  past 
seventy  years. 

^  II.  The  policy  of  the  Old  Light  Synod,  in  1833,  was  very 
similar  to  that  of  the  Revolution  Assembly  o  ^Scotland,  in 
1689.  As  the  indulged  and  curates  were  admitted  to  seats 
in  court;  so  some  were  received  as  members  of  Synod  1833, 
who,  on  giving  in  their  certificates  of  delegation,  expressly 
claimed  a  right  "to  withdraw  them,  if  they  should  see 
cause  " — yea,  one  of  these  was  placed  in  the  Moderator's  chair  I  At 
that  meeting,  it  was  urged  that  the  Argumentative  part  of 
"Reformation  Principles  Exhibited  "  should  be  hastened  to 
completion,  but  without  effect. 

III.  At  the  next  meeting,  1834,  when  another  edition  of 
that  book  was  ordered  to  be  published,  with  a  continuation 
of  the  Historical  part,  together  with  Terms  of  Communion, 
it  was  urged  that  the  defect  in  the  first  Term  be  supplied  by 
inserting  the  words— "and  the  alone  infallible  rule  of  faith 
and  manners."  In  the  new  edition,  1835,  these  all-important 
words  were  omitted  as  before  1  Even  at  that  date,  some  of 
the  ministers  seemed  to  be  influenced  more  by  popular  o[)inion 
than  by  the  infallible  rule.  Not  until  the  year  1849  was  the 
second  member  of  the  first  Term  inserted  ;  and  even  then, 
by  a  clause  more  obnoxious  and  dangerous  than  the  previous 
omission — "the  only  rule  of  faith  a'nd  practice,"  thus  virtu- 
ally exclud'mir  Subordiriate  Standards  [dtogether. 

IV.  In  1836,  some  members  petitioned  for  relief,  who  had 
been  suspended  for  refusing  to  receive  the  sacramental 
symbols  from  the  hands  of  pastors  who  were  confederated 
with  all  sorts  of  persons  for  moral  reform.  The  perpetrators 
of  this  tyranny  called  out  in  Synod,  that  "such  papers  were 
not  fit  to  be  read,"  &c.  "Revolters  are  ])rof()und  to  make 
slaughter."  We  testify  against  the  outrage  otfered  at  that 
time  to  members  of  court,  in  refusing  to  allow^  their  dissents 
to  be  entered  on  the  minutes;  and"  especially  against  the 
gross  injustice  done  to  aggi'ieved  members,  by  "returning 
their  papers  as  "abusive,  insulting,"  &c.,  as  if  petitioning  for 


[173] 

redress  of  wrongs,  and  enforcing  prayers  by  dispassionate  and 
solid  arguments  from  the  Bible  and  approved  authors,  were 
an  insult! 

V.  The  Synod  was  asked,  in  1838,  most  respectfully,  for- 
mally, and  explicitly,  to  review  and  rectify  some  cases  of 
hio^h-handed  tyranny,  chiefly  through  the  intiuence  of  that 
pa^'ty  who  caused  the  lamentable  breach  in  1833  ;  as  some  of 
the  subjects  of  that  tyranny  were  yet  writhing  under  a  sense 
of  accumulated  wrongs.  ''  That  the  term  testimony  be 
restored  to  its  former  ecclesiastical  use,"  was  also  matter 
of  respectful  petition  at  the  same  time.  Whether  through 
apathy,  ignorance,  or  other  cause,  Synod  turned  a  deaf  ear 
to  her  most  faithful  children,  and  refused  either  redress  or 
reformation. 

For  the  first  time  in  two  hundred  years,  the  innovation 
of  continuous  singing  in  the  public  worship  of  God,  found 
advocates  at  that  meeting  of  Synod ;  and  because  the  two 
most  zealous  pleaders  in  favor  of  this  innovation  were 
natives  of  Scotland,  and  the  only  two  ministerial  members 
of  court  of  that  nationality,  their  names  are  here  recorded, 
viz:  Messrs.  James  Milligan  and  David  Scott.  They  received 
merited  reproof  in  a  seasonable  and  powerful  speech,  by  the 
late  Dr.  James  R.  Wilson.  If  the  apostle  Paul,  in  view  of 
the  law  of  charity,  would  condescend  to  the  means  of  edifying 
"  one  that  believed  not,  or  one  unlearned,  coming  into  the  assem- 
bly "  of  Christians,  1  Cor.  xiv,  24  ;  much  more  ought  the 
Psalm  to  be  read,  "  line  by  line,  w^hile  many  in  the  congrega- 
tion could  not  read."  Against  this  violation  of  the  moral 
law,  still  prevalent,  we  continue  to  testify  ;  for  unbelievers 
and  the  unlearned  do  still  "  come  into  the  assembly."  1  Cor. 
X,  32.  Alas  1  many  w^ho  can  read  in  our  day,  seem  to  con- 
tinue ignorant  of  that  law  equally  with  the  gospel ! 

VI.  In  1840,  the  Synod  was  what  is  technically  called  a 
packed  court,  some  new  elders  having  been  hastily  ordained 
for  the  purpose  of  voting  in  presbytery  in  favor  of  delegates 
to  Synod,  who  could  aid  in  voting  for  corrupt  measures. 
One  Moderator  gave  the  casting  vote  for  his  own  son;  and 
these  were  the  same  who  afterwards  pretended  to  suspend 
the  constituent  members  of  the  Reformed  Presbytery  !  This 
Synod  abolished  the  two  subordinate  Synods,  after  they 
were  legally  dead,  as  declared  by  Rev.  Hugh  Walkinshaw  on 
the  floor  of  the  court.  Kext,  by  formal  vote,  it  abrogated 
its  own  delegation  form,  and  thus  terminated  its  legal 
existence.  Since  that  date,  this  body  has  had  no  legal  eccle- 
siastical court  of  higher  grade  than  presbyteries;  and  even 
one  of  these,   the   Lakes   Presbytery,   had   an    illegitimate 


[174] 

origin.  Against  these  violations  of  Presbyterial  Church 
Governnienr,  by  which  schism  has  been  rendered  chronic,  we 
enter  our  solemn  protest.     • 

Ai!:ain,  these  brethren  declared  their  sin  as  Sodom,  when, 
in  the  late  civil  war,  the  President  called  for  volunteers  ''  to 
enforce  the  Constitution  and  execute  the  laws,"  many  of 
their  peo[)le  entered  the  army,  and  one  of  their  ministers 
commanded  a  company  !  That  individual,  and  many  others, 
are  still  held  in  good  standing.  \\\  ISliS  they  framed 
an  oath  to  be  ''  faithful  to  the  United  States,"  assuring  their 
people  that  it  was  not  an  ''oath  of  allegiance!"  Now,  we 
believe,  with  the  late  Rev.  William  Anderson,  of  Scot- 
land, that  no  ingenuity  or  sophistry  can  justify  their 
tightino:for  a  government  or  constitution  which  they  them- 
selves "(leclared  to  be  immoral;  nor  can  any  arguments 
prove  the  consistency  of  testifying  against  a  constitution  as 
immoral,  and  at  tiie  same  time  otfering  their  lives  in  its 
defence.  This  we  pronounce  a  more  |)alpable  and  dishonorable 
surrender  of  the  testimony,  than  that  of  1833.  ''The  back- 
slidino:  Israel  hath  iustitied  herself  more  than  treacherous 
Judah." 

The  practice  of  confederating  with  all  sorts  of  people 
ostensibly  to  promote  moral  reformation  in  society,  has  been 
on  the  increase  among  these  brethren  for  many  years;  so 
that  now  they  freely  amalgamate  both  in  civil  and  eccle- 
siastical relations.  Fl/'st,  They  formally  abolished  the  Pro- 
clamation of  Banns,  which  the  reformers  had  established  to 
preserve  the  purity  of  Christian  families.  Second^  They 
have  practically  set  aside  the  Rule  on  Occasional  Hearing,  by 
transferring  the  Rule  from  the  Declaratory  to  the  Historical 
part  of  Refonned  Principles  Exhibited.  Third.,  They  hold 
fellowship  with  denominations  against  which  they  testify, 
by  appointing  and  receiving  delegates  reciprocally  in  their 
resi)ective  judicatories — a  self-inconsistent  and  unfaithful 
practice,  which  had  been  once  and  again  successfully  resisted 
in  the  last  generation  ;  and  some  of  them  have  been  com- 
missioned to  a  proposed  convention  to  effect  a  sort  of  Ecu- 
menical Presbyterial  Confederation!  Fourth^  Co-operating 
in  "  National  Reform,"  they  m  ngle  wnth  prelates  and  others 
On  popular  platforms,  against  whom  they  pretend  to  bear 
testimony.  And,  Fifths  Having  by  these  manifold  steps  of 
defection,  in  conforming  to  this  world,  considerably  in- 
creased in  numbers,  and  still  more  in  financial  resources; 
distrusting  the  Head  of  the  church  and  eacii  other,  they 
have  sought  and  obtained  a  civil  charter  for  the  greater  se- 
curity of  their  entire  ecclesiastical  property.     We  know  not 


[175] 

in  history  a  dehasins:  act  analoo;ons  to  this,  except  the  letter 
of  the  Tndulofed  to  James  II,  in  which  they  "  thanked  his 
nifijesty  for  liis  snr])risiiig  royal  favour."  The  Indiilijed, 
however,  had  been  forcibly  deprived  of  the  exercise  of  their 
ministry — not  so  our  brethren  ;  they  did,  like  Issachar,  bow 
tlieir  necks  to  the  yoke  in  the  most  spontaneous  and  abject 
manner,  receiving  the  desired  boon,  with  all  its  anti-scr  ])t- 
ural  conditions  and  ofHces,  subject  to  the  "  Constitutions  of 
the  Unite<l  States  and  of  Pennsylvania  1 !  1"  Against  the 
above  systematic  course  of  backsliding,  persistently  carried 
on  for  many  years,  the  Reformed  Presbytery  enters  and  re- 
cords its  solenjn  protest. 

.  The  Bond  adopted  in  Pittsburgh,  1871,  by  a  majority  of 
these  former  brethern,  must  be  regarded  as  comprising  the 
whole  series  of  defection,  some  steps  only  of  which  have 
bee!i  specified.  It  has  been  truly  but  mildly  termed  "  a 
blunder  "  by  some  among  themselves ;  and  b}^  many  it  has 
been  conceded  that  it  is  so  "defective"  as  to  require  it  to 
be  ''supplemented."  Well,  when  presbyteries,  sessions,  and 
individuals  sliall  have  added  their  several — and  most  assur- 
edly conflicting — additions,  how  shall  it  be  regarded  as  a 
BOND  ?  Even  of  their  ownselves,  some  view  it  as  a  "  substi- 
tute," others  as  a  ''renovation"  of  the  original  covenants. 
Without  entering  upon  an  analysis  of  its  errors  and  defects, 
we  hereby  judicially  pronounce  it  a  deceptive  and  perfidious 
document.  Of  course,  tbose  Synods  of  Scotland  and  Ireland, 
which  hold  fellowship  with  adberents  to  the  "American 
Covenant,"  nmst  be  regarded  and  reckoned  as  in  the  same 
catagory. 

In  this  ago  of  boasted  charity, but  really  "  detestable  neu- 
trality and  indifferency,"  it  is  an  irksome  and  painful  task, 
but  a  duty,  thus  to  bear  testimony  against  churches,  in 
wliich  are  to  be  foinid,  no  doubt,  many  precious  sons  and 
daughters  of  the  Lord  Almighty.  But  personal  piety  never 
was,  nor  possibly  can  it  be,  the  condition  of  fellowshi})  in 
the  visible  church.  To  think  so,  and  say  so,  is  one  of  the 
most  popular  delusions  of  the  present  day.  It  puts  the  sui> 
posed  pious  man,  speaking  his  experience,  in  the  place  of 
God,  speaking  his  sovereign  will  in  the  Bible.  This  is  the 
height  of  im[tiety.  Fidelity  to  Christ  and  our  solenm  cove- 
nant engagements,  as  also  charity  to  all  parties,  require  that 
we  both  speak  and  act  as  witnesses. 

The  presbytery  would  now  advert  to  some  of  the  many 
false  statements  and  slanderous  imputations,  with  which 
its  constituent  members  were  assailed  at  the  time  of 
separation    from   tlieir    irreclaimable    brethren,   thirty-live 


[176] 

years  ago  ;  and  which  some  of  the  senior  ministry  have 
sedulously  }troi»agated  among  the  younger  ones  till  the  pres- 
ent time.  AVith  grief  we  might,  though  w^e  will  not,  with 
application,  say  wdth  Jacoh  of  his  own  sons,  ^'  Cursed  he 
their  anger,  for  it  was  tierce ;  and  their  wrath,  for  it  was 
cruel."  The  senior  memher  of  the  Reformed  Preshytery  had 
been  long  an  object  of  slander,  and  malice  pursued  him  to 
the  grave.  The  junior  member  has  been  sj>ared  in  mercy, 
to  outlive,  expose,  and  refute  similar  imputations  and  ground- 
less insinuations. 

Sonie  of  those  charges  are  the  following — for  even  a 
Heathen  "  permitted  Paul  to  speak  for  himself."  Acts 
xxvi,  1. 

The  first  cry  against  the  presbytery  and  its  members  was 
— "schism — schismatics!"  This  charge  was  promptly  and 
publicly  met  and  refuted,  by  showing  from  the  Scriptures, 
that  schism  is — "  in  the  body,"  1  Cor.  xii,  26  ;  and  from 
the  approved  writings  of  our  reformed  covenanting  fathers, 
that  "  sometimes,  to  avoid  schism,  we  must  separate.^^  Our 
worthy  ancestors  knew  better  than  to  adopt  the  vocabulary 
of  papal  Rome.  Besides,  "  the  majority  making  defection 
are  the  real  separatists."     (Samuel  Rutherford). 

But,  the  separation  was  made  in  a  "  disorderly  manner," 
said  our  accusers.  Did  a  declining  majority  ever  credit  a 
minority  with  separating  in  an  orderly  manner  ?  No,  never. 
But  it  is  further  urged,  wh}^  did  the  minority  not  protest 
and  decline  the  authority  of  Synod,  assigning  their  reasons? 
Simply  because  there  was  no  Synod  in  legal  being,  before 
which  to  table  such  instruments,  as  has  been  already  shown. 
iN'either  the  laws  nor  usages  of  Presbyterianism  required  the 
minority  thus  to  stultify  themselves.  Moreover,  the  Re- 
formed Presbytery,  so  soon  as  organized,  of  right,  claimed 
and  possessed  judicial  powders,  at  least  co-ordinate  with  any 
court  in  the  party  from  which  they  had  been  constrained  to 
separate. 

Again,  a  member  of  presbytery  w^as  charged  in  print  with 
"prowling  about  among  the  congregations"  of  the  minority. 
To  prowl  is  the  well-known  propensity  of  the  literal  wolf  to 
devour  prey.  In  Scripture,  the  wolf  is  a  symbol  of  cunning 
and  cruelty;  Acts  xx,  29.  To  this  we  only  say,  we  envy 
not  the  disposition  of  any  man,  who  could  make  such  a  grat- 
uitous and  malignant  ap[)lication  of  a  sacred  symbol.  And 
we  are  sure  that  no  minister  of  the  Reformed  Presbytery  has 
obtruded  himself  ujton  any  of  the  former  brethren,  without 
a  cordial  invitation  first  received  from  them. 

The  last  charge  we  notice  is — The  Reformed  Presbytery 


[177] 

is  "  opposed  to  all  progress."  To  this  it  is  answered, — by 
no  means — every  way  the  contrary,  in  accordance  with  the 
alone  infallible  rule;  for  ''Christ's  scholars  never  learn 
above  their  13ible."  This  presbytery  believes  firmly,  that 
the  testimony  of  Christ's  witnesses  is  necessarily  pro- 
gressive, and  that  it  will  assuredly  advance  in  the  face  of  all 
opposition  till  it  be  ''  finished."  Rev.  xi,  7.  There  is  no 
such  anomalous  document  recognized  among  the  faithful 
witnesses  as  a  ''Standing  Testimony."  All  such  measures 
of  compromise  they  must  repudiate.  The  church  of  God  is 
one,  Song  vi,  9;  Eph.  iv,  4-6  ;  the  only  true  historical  so- 
ciety on  earth  ;  Ps.  Ixxxix,  29  ;  cv,  10  ;  Rom.  iv,  13  ;  the 
only  indestructible  and  immortal  corporation.  Is.  liv,  17  ; 
Mart,  xvi,  18.  Iler  earnest  contendings  against  the  devil, 
the  world,  and  the  flesh,  are  to  be  put  on  record,  but  not  to 
be  confounded  with  confession  of  her  faith,  though  both  be 
inseparable.  .Thus  it  is  that  when  the  spouse  is  in  perplexity, 
as  to  present  duty,  her  glorious  Husband  directs,  to  ''  go  her 
way  forth  by  the  footsteps  of  the  flock ;"  Song  i,  8 ;  to 
"  take  for  an  example  of  suffering  affliction  and  of  patience, 
the  prophets  who  have  spoken  in  the  name  of  the  Lord." 
Jas.  V,  10.  Christ  himself  hath  left  us  an  example  that  we 
should  "•  follow  his  steps"  as  well  as  receive  his  doctrines. 
In  total  disregard  of  such  plain  and  reiterated  declarations  of 
the  Holy  Spirit,  all  the  so-called  judicial  testimonies, 
.which  have  been  emitted  since  the  overthrow  of  the  Second 
Reformation,  have  excluded  history  and  argument — the  very 
essence  of  a  testimony,  save  that  faithful  and  Scriptural  one 
adopted  in  1761,  re-published  in  1850,  with  a  progressive 
supplement.  Thus  different  parties  claiming  to  be  the  fol- 
lowers of  Christ's  w^itnesses,  have  palmed  upon  a  credulous 
world  a  confession^  instead  of  a  testimony.  The  Reformed 
Presbytery  would  earnestly  desire  to  disabuse  the  Christian 
mind  of  this  gross  deception  and  great  imposition,  by  which 
many  sincere  and  devout  disciples  are  befogged  and  dis- 
tracted. 

1.  The  Bible,  both  Old  and  Kew  Testament,  is  largely  his- 
torical— the  books  of  Genesis  and  Matthew  beginning  with 
narrative,  the  wonderful  works  of  God.  It  is  thus  adapted 
to  the  rational  nature  of  man,  and  equally  to  the  spiritual 
nature  of  the  new  man. 

2.  The  church  cannot  ascertain  the  fulfilment  of  prophecy 
— the  cumulating  external  evidence  of  her  divine  original: 
nor  can  Christ's  witnesses  otherwise  than  by  history  identify 
her  confederated  enemies — the  man  of  sin  and  son  of  perdi- 
tion, his  paramour — the  w^ell  favored  harlot,  and  her  harlot 


[178] 

dau2:bters — the  oftspring  of  her  fornication  with  the  kings 
of  the  earth. 

3.  The  present  cannot  in  faith  confess  the  sins,  or  express 
thanks  to  God  for  the  mercies,  of  a  former  generation,  ex- 
cept on  the  credibility  of  human  history. 

4.  'Nor  otherwise  can  a  Christian  know  the  time  or  place 
of  his  birth,  or  the  persons  whom  God  commands  him  to 
honor  as  his  father  and  mother,  than  by  uninspired  testi- 
mony ;  and  the  same  is  true  of  his  covenant  obligation,  if 
baptized  in  infancy.  Against  all  who  ignorantly  or  reck- 
lessly reject  or  oppose  history  as  a  bond  of  fellowship,  in  the 
family,  in  the  state,  but  especially  in  the  church,  we  thus 
enter  our  solemn  and  uncompromising  protest. 

And  tinally,  we  testify  against  all  who,  under  pretext  of 
superior  charity  or  liberality,  fiercely  clamor  for  union  of 
churches  by  a  sacrifice  of  divine  truth,  and  in  violation  of 
order ;  or,  who  advocate  intercommunion  among  bodies  or- 
ganically separate;  or  who  furnish  tesiimonials  of  Christian 
character  to  oflicers  or  members,  who  avow  their  intention  to 
break  covenant;  thus  inculcating  hypocrisy,  by  precept  and 
■example,  and  reducing  the  awful  sin  of  perjury  to  system.  By 
such  sinful  and  debasing  practices ;  by  the  haughty  bearing 
of  idle  shepherds  of  mercenary  spirit — ''greedy  dogs  which 
can  never  have  enough" — the  ])Oor  sheep  of  Christ,  whose 
souls  starve  under  a  fruitless  ministry,  are  tempted  to  "heap 
to  themselves  teachers" — unauthorized  revivalists — who  ''un- 
derstand neither  what  they  say,  nor  whereof  they  affirm ;" 
and  are  thus  prepared  to  become  the  vassals  of  anti-christ ; 
to  be  led  blindfold  down  to  the  chambers  of  eternal  perdition. 
And,  notwithstanding  the  judgments  of  God  inflicted  on  this 
nation  by  the  recent  internecine  war,  it  still  refuses  to  sub- 
mit to  the  authority  of  the  Lord  and  his  Anointed.  It 
authoritatively  tolerates  all  religions,  necromancy  and  poli- 
gamy  ;  and  profanes  the  Lord's  day  by  post-office  and  railway 
traffic,  for  profit  or  pleasure. 

"  Arise,  O  God,  judge  the  earth:  for  thou  shall  inherit  all  nations." 


PART   lY. 

A  brief  declaration  or  summary  of  the  principles  maintained  by  the  pres- 
bytery, as  to  doctrine,  worship,  discipline,  and  government,  in  agree- 
ablenessto  the  word  of  God,  our  Confession  of  Faith  and  Catechisms,  and 
whole  covenanted  testimony  of  the  Church  of  Scotland. — The  contrary 
doctrines  condemned. 

Unto  what  has  been  more  generally  laid  down  in  the  pre- 
ceding pages,  with  respect  to  the  principles  and  practice  of 
this  church  and  nation,  both  in  former  and  present  times; 
the  presbytery  proceed  to  subjoin  a  positive  and  explicit 
declaration  of  their  principles  anent  the  truths  of  our  holy 
religion,  whether  by  the  generality  agreed  unto,  or  by  some 
controverted. 

I.  Of  God. — The  presbytery  did,  and  hereby  do  acknowl- 
edge and  declare,  that  there  is  one  inlinite,  eternal,  self-exist- 
ent, and  independent  Being ;  and  that  this  only  true  and 
living  God,  absolutely  all-sufficient,  having  all  being,  per- 
fection, glory,  and  blessedness,  in  and  of  himself,  subsists  in 
three  distinct,  divine  persons,  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy 
Spirit  (in  one  and  the  same  undivided  essence  and  godhead), 
all  equally  the  same  in  substance,  power,  and  glory,  although 
distinguished  by  their  personal  properties;  according  to 
Deut.  vi,  4;  1  Cor.  viii,  6;  1  Tim.  i,  17;  Acts  xvii,  24,  25; 

1  John  V,  7  ;  Matth.  xxviii,  19 ;    Confession  of  Faith,  chap. 

2  ;  larger  catechism,  quest.  7-11 ;  shorter  catechism,  quest.  4-6. 

II.  Of  the  Holy  Scriptures. — Again,  they  confess  and 
declare,  that  although  the  light  of  nature  discovers  unto  us 
that  there  is  a  God,  yet  of  itself  it  is  absolutely  insufficient 
to  teach  us  the  saving  knowledge  of  the  invisible  Being  and 
his  will ;  and  therefore  God  of  his  infinite  condescension  has 
given  us  a  most  perfect  revelation  of  himself  and  of  his  will 
in  the  scriptures  of  truth,  contained  in  the  sacred  books  of 
the  Old  and  New  Testament ;  which  scriptures  the  pres- 
bytery assert  to  be  of  divine  authority,  and  not  to  be  be- 
lieved and  received  because  of  any  other  testimony,  than 
that  of  God  their  author,  who  is  truth  itself.  Which  word 
of  God  is  the  alone  perfect  and  complete  rule,  both  of  faith 
and  practice,  containing  a  full  and  ample  revelation  of  the 
whole  counsel  of  God,  both  respecting  his  own  glory  and 
the  salvation  of  men ;  by  which  all  spirits  are  to  be  tried, 
and  to  which  all  doctrines  and  controversies  in  reliscion  are 


[180] 

to  be  brought,  as  to  the  supreme  judge,  in  whose  sentence 
alone  we  are  to  acquiesce ;    according   to   Rom.  i,  19,  20  ; 

1  Cor.  ii,  13,  14;  Heb.  i,  1  ;  2  Tim.  iii,  16  ;  2  Pet.  i,  19,  21 ; 

2  Tim.  iii,  15;  Gal.  i,  8,  9;  Eph.  ii,  20,  and  our  standards, 
Confess  chap.  1 ;  larger  Cat.  quest.  2-5  ;  shorter  Cat.  quest.  2, 3. 

III.  Of  the  Decrees  of  God. — Again,  they  assert  and 
maintain,  that  Jehovah,  according  to  his  own  most  wise 
counsel,  and  for  his  own  glory,  has,  by  one  immanent  act  of 
his  will  from  eternity,  purposed  and  decreed  all  events  in 
time;  and  particularly,  that  by  his  absolute  sovereignty,  he 
has  unchangeably  determined  the  final  state  of  all  intelligent 
beings,  visible  and  invisible.  That  God  of  his  mere  good 
pleasure,  abstracting  from  all  other  causes  whatever,  for  the 
praise  of  his  glorious  grace  to  be  r'^anifested  in  time,  has 
Irom  all  eternity  predestinated  a  certain  detinite  number  of 
mankind  sinners,  in  and  through  Jesus  Christ,  to  eternal 
life,  together  with  all  the  means  leading  thereunto.  And 
also,  by  the  same  sovereign  will,  has  passed  by,  and  left 
others  in  their  sins,  foreordaining  them  to  bear  the  just 
punishment  of  their  own  iniquities  ;  as  is  evident  from  Rom. 
ix,  11,  13,  15,  16,  18  ;  Eph.  i,  4,  6,  9,  11 ;  Jude  verse  4  ;  and 
according  to  Confess,  chap.  3  ;  larger  Cat.  quest.  12,  13  ; 
shorter  Catechism  quest.  7. 

IV.  Of  Creation. — In  like  manner  they  acknowledge  and 
declare,  that  as  God,  from  the  intinity  of  his  being  and 
goodness,  has  communicated  a  iinite  created  existence  to  all 
other  beings,  framing  them  with  natures  wisely  suited  and 
adapted  to  the  different  ends  of  their  creation;  so  by  the 
same  all-powerful  word  whereby  they  were  at  first  creuted, 
he  preserves  and  upholds  all  his  creatures  in  their  beings, 
and  by  the  incessant  care  and  invariable  conduct  of  his 
divine  providence,  does  constantly  direct  and  overrule  them 
and  all  their  actions  unto  his  own  glory ;  according  to 
divine  revelation;  Gen.  i,  throughout;  Col.  i,  16  ;  Rom.  xi, 
36  ;  Psal.  cxlv,  17,  and  xxxiii,  9  ;  and  cxix,  91 ;  Ileb.  i,  2,  3  ; 
Confess,  chap.  4,  5  ;  larger  Cat.  quest.  1  i  ;  short  Cat.  quest.  8. 

Likewise  they  profess  and  declare,  that  God,  as  the  last 
and  finishing  part  of  his  workmanship  in  this  lower  world, 
created  man  an  intelligent  being,  endued  with  a  living,  reas- 
onable and  immortal  soul,  whose  greatest  glory  consisted  in 
his  having  the  gracious  image  of  his  God  and  Creator  drawn 
upon  his  soul,  chiefly  consisting  in  that  knowledge,  right- 
eousness and  inherent  holiness  wherewith  he  was  created. 
And  further,  that  God,  in  his  favor  and  condescension  to 
man,  was  pleased  to  enter  into  a  covenant  with  him,  as  the 
public  head  and  representative  of  all  his  posterity,  where. n 


[181] 

God  promised  unto  him  eternal  life  and  blessedness  with 
himself  in  glor}-,  upon  condition  of  personal,  perfect  and 
perpetual  obedience  ;  to  the  performance  whereof,  he  furnished 
him  with  full  power  and  ability,  and  threatened  death  upon 
the  violation  of  his  law  and  covenant,  as  is  evident  from  the 
sacred  text ;  Gen.  i,  '26,  27;  Eccl.  vii,  29 ;  Gen.  ii,  17  ;  Rom. 
X,  5,  and  according  to  our  Confess,  chap.  4,  §  2  ;  chap.  7, 
§  1,  2;  chap.  19,  §  1;  larger  Cat.  quest.  20;  short.  Cat. 
quest.  10,  12. 

V.  Of  the  Fall  of  Man. — They  again  assert  and  main- 
tain, that  the  first  and  common  parents  of  mankind,  being 
seduced  by  the  subtility  of  Satan,  transgressed  the  covenant 
of  innocency,  in  eating  the  forbidden  fruit ;  whereby  they 
lost  the  original  rectitude  of  their  nature,  were  cut  off  from 
all  gracious  intercourse  with  God,  and  became  both  legally 
and  spiritually  dead;  and  therefore  they  being  the  natural 
root  of  all  mankind,  and  the  covenant  being  made  with 
Adam^  not  as  a  private,  but  a  public  person,  all  his  descend- 
ants by  ordinary  generation,  are  born  under  the  guilt  of  that 
first  sin,  destitute  of  original  righteousness,  and  having  their 
nature  wholly  depraved  and  corrupted  ;  so  that  they  are  by 
nature  children  of  wrath,  subjected  unto  all  the  penal  evils 
contained  in  the  curse  of  a  broken  law,  both  in  this  life,  and 
in  that  which  is  to  come  ;  Gen.  iii,  6, 13  ;  Eccl.  vii,  29  ;  Rom. 
V,  from  12  to  20  ;  Rom.  iii,  10-19  ;  Eph.  ii,  3 ;  Confess. 
<jhap.  6  ;  larger  Cat.  quest.  21,  22;  short.  Cat.  quest.  13  to  20. 

In  like  manner  they  assert  and  declare,  that  all  mankind, 
by  their  orig  nal  apostasy  from  God,  are  not  only  become 
altogether  filthy  and  abominable  in  the  eyes  of  God's  holiness  ; 
but  also,  are  hereby  utterly  indisposed,  disabled,  and  entirely 
opposite  to  all  good,  the  understanding  become  darkness,  and 
the  will  enmity  and  rebellion  itself  against  God  ;  so  that  man, 
by  his  tall,  having  lost  all  ability  of  will  to  what  is  spiritually 
good,  cannot  in  his  natural  state,  and  by  his  own  strength, 
convert  himself  (being  dead  in  trespasses  and  sins),  nor  can  he 
in  less  or  more  contribute  to'hisown  salvation,  or  in  the  least 
prepare  himself  thereunto;  neither  is  there  any  natural, 
necessary  or  moral  connection  between  the  most  diligent 
and  serious  use  of  the  means,  and  obtaining  salvation  thereby. 
Although  the  presbytery  maintain,  that  as  a  God  of  grace 
has  promised  the  converting  influences  of  his  Spirit  to  be 
showered  down  upon  dead  souls,  in  the  use  of  means  of  his 
own  appointment ;  they  are  therefore  to  be  attended  to  with 
the  utmost  care  and  diligence;  as  appears  from  Rom.  v,  6 ; 
John  vi,44,  65  ;  Tit.  iii,  3-5;  Job  xiv,  4;  Confess,  chap.  9, 
§  3 ;  larger  Cat.  quest.  25. 


[182] 

VI.  Of  the  Covenant  of  Grace. — Likewise  they  assert 
and  declare,  that  Jehovah,  in  the  person  of  the  Father,  having 
purposed  to  save  a  certain  number  of  the  ruined  family  of 
Adam,  did  from  all  eternity  enter  into  a  covenant  transaction 
with  Jesus  Christ,  his  eternal  and  only  begotten  Son,  who 
contracted  as  the  second  Adam,  in  the  name  of  all  his  spiritual 
seed.  In  which  covenant,  the  Father  promising  to  confer 
eternal  life  upon  a  select  nuraher  given  unto  Christ,  upon  con- 
dition of  his  fulfilling  all  righteousness  for  them;  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ  did  again  stipulate  and  engage,  as  the  condition 
of  the  covenant  by  him  to  be  fulfilled,  that  in  the  fullness  of 
time,  assuming  the  human  nature  into  a  personal  union  with 
the  divine,  he  would  therein,  and  in  the  elect's  name  fulfill^ 
not  only  the  preceptive  part  of  the  law,  but  also  bear  the 
whole  punishment  contained  in  the  threatening  thereofi 
which  covenant,  that  it  might  be  absolutely  free  to  sinners,, 
and  that  the  salvation  therein  provided  for  them,  might  not 
be  of  debt,  but  of  grace,  was  unto  Jesus  Christ  a  covenant  of 
redemption,  nothing  being  therein  promised  to  him,  but 
upon  his  paying  a  full  price,  adequate  to  the  most  extensive 
demands  of  law  and  justice;  according  to  Tsal.  Ixxxix,  2,3,, 
28,  34,  35  ;  Tit.  i,  2  ;  Isa.  liii,  10, 11 ;  Matth.  v,  17  ;  Confess, 
chap.  7,  §  3  ;  larg.  Cat.  quest.  30,  31 ;  short.  Cat.  quest.  20. 

VII.  Of  the  Mediator. — In  like  manner  they  profess,, 
assert,  and  declare,  that  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the  second 
person  in  the  glorious  and  adorable  Trinity,  being  by  the 
Father's  appointment  constituted  mediator  and  surety  of  the 
new  covenant,  did,  in  the  fulhiessof  time,  assume  the  human 
nature,  consisting  of  a  true  body  and  reasonable  soul,  into  a 
personal  union  with  his  divine ;  which  two  natures,  in  the 
one  person  of  our  Immanuel,  God-man,  remain  distinct, 
without  conversion,  composition,  or  confusion.  And  being 
every  way  completely  qualified  and  furnished  for  executing 
his  mediatory  offices  of  propliet,  priest,  and  king,  was 
called  to  the  exercise  thereof,  by  God  the  Father,  who  put 
all  power  and  judgment  into  hie  hand,  and  gave  him  com- 
mandment to  execute  the  same;  Prov.  viii,  23  ;  Ileb.  ii,  14  ; 
1  Tim.  ii,  5;  John  vi,  27,  and  v,  27;  Confess,  chap.  8 
throughout;  larg.  Cat.  quest.  21-23;  short.  Cat.  quest. 
21,  22. 

Again,  they  acknowledge  and  declare,  that  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ  our  Redeemer,  the  only  begotten  Son  of  God, 
by  eternal  and  ineffable  generation,  is  most  properly  a  divine 
person,  true  and  very  God,  one  in  essence,  equal  and  the  same 
in  power,  eternity,  glory,  and  all  divine  perfections  with  the 
Father  and  Holy  Ghost:  and  that  therefore  it  is  most  bias- 


[183] 

phemous  to  assert,  that  the  terms,  necessary  existence^  and 
supreme  deity ^  and  the  title  of  the  only  true  God.,  do  not  belong 
to  the  Son  equally  with  the  Father,  as  the  same  in  substance, 
being  expressly  contrary  to  tliese  texts  of  sacred  writ  which 
assert  the  opposite  truth  ;  John  i,  1-4  ;  Phil,  ii,  6  ;  John  x,  30  ; 
1  John  V,  20,  and  to  our  standards,  Confess,  chap.  8,  §  2 ; 
larg.  Cat.  quest.  36 ;  short.  Cat.  6. 

They  likewise  further  acknowledge,  assert,  and  declare, 
that  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the  eternal  Son  of  God,  and  only 
Mediator  between  God  and  man,  being  designed  from  ever- 
lasting the  Redeemer  of  his  people,  and  having  all  fullness, 
power,  and  authority  lodged  in  him  for  the  execution  of  his 
mediatory  trust,  has,  ever  since  the  fall  of  mankind,  as  the 
great  and  good  she[)herd  of  Israel^  undertaken  the  care,  gov- 
ernment, i)rotection,  and  instruction  of  the  church  of  God, 
in  agreeableness  to  the  above  said  trust:  which  he  did  all 
along  under  the  Old  Testament,  and  still  continues  faithfully 
to  discharge  in  all  the  parts  thereot;so  that  whatever  revela- 
tion God  made  unto  his  church  since  the  fall,  was  by  Jesus 
Christ  as  the  great  prophet  and  preacher  of  righteousness. 
Particularly,  it  w^as  he  that  first  appeared  unto  lapsed  man, 
and  as  the  great  revealer  of  the  council  of  peace,  called  upon 
him  in  the  voice  of  mercy,  saying,  "  Adam^  where  art  thou  ?'' 
It  was  he  that,  pleasing  himself  in  the  forethoughts  of  his 
future  incarnation,  and  as  a  prelude  thereto,  condescended  at 
different  times  to  appear  in  a  human  form,  and  speak  unto 
the  fathers.  By  him,  as  the  messenger  of  the  covenant, 
were  the  lively  oracles  delivered  to  the  Israelitish  church  ; 
and  by  his  Spirit  in  the  prophets,  successively  raised  up  to 
instruct  his  church  in  the  knowledge  of  the  divine  will,  was 
signified  and  foretold  the  grace  that  should  come,  until  the 
fullness  of  the  time  appointed  in  the  council  of  Heaven, 
when  it  was  promised  he  should  come,  and  hy  his  personal 
presence  fill  his  house  wnth  glory.  Then  did  God  in  these 
last  days  speak  unto  men  by  his  Son,  whom  he  has  appointed 
heir  of  all  things;  who,  not  only  by  himself,  but  also,  after 
his  ascension,  by  his  evangelists  and  apostles  filled  with  the 
Spirt,  has  made  known  all  things  that  he  heard  of  his  Father. 
And  now,  after  the  canon  of  scri[>ture  is  completed,  and  no 
new  revelation  to  be  expected  to  the  end  of  time,  continues 
by  his  word  and  spirit  to  instruct  sinners  in  the  knowledge 
of  all  things  necessary  for  their  sanctification  and  salvation  ; 
according  to  Acts  x,  38,  and  iii,  22;  Luke  iv,  18,  21 ;  John 
i,  18  ;  1  Pet.  i,  10-12  ;  Ileb.  i,  1,  2  ;  Eph.  iv,  11-13  ;  Confess. 
chap.  8,  §  1 ;  larg.  Cat.  quest.  43 ;  short.  Cat.  quest.  24. 

In  like   manner,  they  profess  and  declare,  that  the  Lord 


[184] 

Jesus  Christ,  being  called  of  him  that  said  unto  him,  "  Thou 
art  my  Son,  this  day  have  I  begotten  thee,"  unto  the  honora- 
ble office  of  High  Priest  over  the  house  of  God,  and  con- 
firmed therein  by  all  the  solemnities  of  the  oath  of  God,  he 
did  most  willingly  undertake  this  work,  saying,  Z/o,  I  come 
to  do  thy  icill^  0  God!  And  that  he  might  iinish  and  fulfill 
the  same,  in  agreeableness  to  his  eternal  engagements  to 
the  Father,  to  the  Old  Testament  types  and  sacrifices, 
promises  and  prophecies,  wherein  he  was  foresigned  and 
revealed  to  be  the  seed  of  the  woman,  that  should  bruise  the 
serpent's  head,  did,  in  the  fullness  of  time,  humble  himself 
to  be  made  of  a  woman,  made  under  the  law,  in  the  form  of 
a  bond  servant  to  Jehovah.  In  wh  ch  character,  he  not  only 
fulfilled  the  preceptive  part  of  the  law,  but  also,  with  the 
most  unparalleled  meekness,  patience  and  resignation,  sub- 
mitted to  the  most  grievous  and  dreadful  sufferings,  both  in 
body  and  soul,  even  all  that  divine  wrath,  indignation  and 
punishment,  wrapped  up  in  the  terrible  curse  of  a  broken 
covenant  of  works.  By  which  obedience  of  his  unto  the 
death,  through  the  eternal  Spirit  offering  himself  without 
spot  unto  God,  a  proper,  real  and  expiatory  sacrifice  for  sin, 
he  has  fully  satisfied  divine  justice,  made  reconciliation  for 
the  iniquities  of  his  peo[)le,  and  purchased  an  eternal  inheri- 
tance for  them  in  the  kingdom  of  glory.  The  saving  benefits 
of  which  redemption,  b}^  the  Si)irit's  eftectual  application 
thereof,  he  does,  by  his  intercession  at  the  Father's  right 
hand,  as  an  arisen,  living,  and  now  glorified  Savior,  con- 
stantly^ and  certainly  communicate  unto  all  those  whom  the 
Father  has  given  him. 

Further,  the  presbyter}^  declare,  that  however  they  acknow- 
ledge the  standing  of  the  world,  as  a  theater  to  display  the 
riches  of  divine  grace,  the  preaching  of  the  gospel  indefin- 
itely to  mankind  sinners,  and  all  the  common  tavors  of  life 
indifierently  enjoyed  by  them,  do  all  result,  as  native,  neces- 
sary and  determined  consequences,  from  the  interposition  of 
Christ  in  behalf  of  his  spiritual  seed,  and  have  their  ultimate 
foundation  in  the  infinite  sufficiency,  fullness  and  perfection, 
of  the  blood  and  sacrifice  of  Christ,  God-man:  yet  they  af- 
firm, that,  as  a  certain  elect  and  select  number  were  given 
unto  Christ,  to  be  redeemed  from  among  men,  so,  for  their 
snkes  alone,  he  engaged  his  heart  to  appn^ach  unto  God. 
For  their  sakes,  he  sanctified  himself;  in  their  name,  i.  e.,  in 
their  law-room  and  stead,  and  for  their  good,  as  the  surety 
of  the  better  covenant,  he  became  obedient  unto  death,  and 
endured  the  whole  of  that  punishment  threatened  by  the 
law,  and  incurred  by  the  transgression  of  it.     He  subjected 


[185] 

himself  to  that  very  curse,  bore  that  wrath  and  died  that 
death,  which  they  themselves  should  have  undergone.  And 
hereby,  by  his  doiuij;  and  dying,  he  made  a  proper,  real,  full 
and  ex[)iatory  satisfaction  to  the  justice  of  God  for  their  sins. 
Wherefore  it  is  impossible  but  that  to  all  those  for  whom 
Christ  has  purchased  this  com|)lete  redemption,  and  for 
whose  sins  he  has  given  this  full  satisfaction  accepted  of  God, 
he  will  certainly  and  effectually  apply  and  communicate  the 
same  in  the  saving  benefits  thereof;  seeing  that  it  is  his  will 
who  has  merited  it,  that  all  those  who  are  the  Father's 
choice  by  election,  and  his  purchase  by  redemi>tion,  should 
be  ever  with  him  lohere  he  is^  that  they  may  behold  his  glory;  and 
since,  as  he  is  thus  willing,  he  is  also  able,  to  save  them  to 
the  uttermost  that  come  to  God  by  him.  So  that  all  for 
whom  Christ  died,  all  that  are  redeemed  by  his  blood,  are, 
in  consequence  hereof,  etfectually  called,  justified,  sanctified 
and  2:lorified  ;  according  to  Psal.  xl,  7,  8  ;  lleb.  x,  5-11  ; 
Phil.^ii,  8  ;  Gal.  iv,  4,  5  ;  lleb.  ix,  14,  28  ;  Dan.  ix,  24  ;  Psal. 
Ixxv,  3  ;  Isa.  xlix,  8  ;  John  vi,  37,  39,  cliap.  x,  15,  16  ;  Eph. 
i,  7  ;  Rom.  vi  i,  34,  and  ver.  29,  30  ;  John  xvii  throughout ; 
John  xi,  52 ;  Confess,  chap,  vii,  §  4,  5,  8  ;  larg.  Cat.  quest. 
44  ;  sh.  Cat.  quest  25. 

They  also  acknowledge,  assert  and  declare,  that  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ  is,  by  the  appointment  of  God  the  Father,  set 
as  Kino;  upon  his  holy  hill  of  Zion  ;  over  which,  as  his  special 
kingdom,  he  is  invested  with  an  absolute  power  and  suprem- 
acy, as  the  sole  and  only  head  thereof,  to  appoint  offices, 
officers,  laws  and  ordinances.  And  that  accordingly,  by 
virtue  of  this  solemn  investiture,  the  same  Lord  Jesus  Christ 
has,  in  all  ages,  called  out  of  the  world,  and  maintained 
therein,  a  church  unto  himself,  which  he  visibly  governs  by 
a  comi)lete  system  of  laws,  officers  and  censures,  instituted  in 
his  word,  and  has  not  left  the  affairs  of  his  church,  in  which 
(as  a  Son  over  his  own  house)  he  peculiarly  presides,  to  be 
regulated  and  modeled  by  the  carnal  policy  and  invention  of 
men.  Also,  that,  as  King  in  Zion,  he  powerfully  and  irre- 
sistibly, in  a  day  of  efficacious  grace,  subdues  the  perverse 
hearts  and  wills  of  sinners  unto  his  obedience,  persuading 
and  enabling  as  many  as  were  appointed  to  obtain  salvation 
through  him,  to  believe  in  his  name,  in  order  thereunto.  All 
whom  he  either  preserves  from,  or  supports  under,  the  var- 
ious temptations,  trials  and  affl  ctions,  they  are  liable  to  in 
this  mortal  life ;  till  at  last,  completing  a  work  of  grace  in 
their  souls,  he  advances  them  to  a  state  of  perfection  and 
glory. 

Further,   the   presbytery  declare   and    maintain,  that,  in 


[186] 

subserviency  to  this,  his  special  mediatory  kingdom,  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ  has  a  supreme  and  sovereign  power  given  unto 
him,  in  heaven  and  in  earth,  and  over  the  internal  powers  of 
darkness — angels,  authorities  and  powers  being  put  in  sub- 
jection to  him  ;  that  he  has  the  management  of  all  the  wheels 
of  providence  put  into  his  hand,  w^hereby  he  restrains,  dis- 
appoints, and  at  last  totally  destroys,  all  the  enemies  of  his 
interest  and  glory  ;  and  by  which  he  orders  and  overrules  all 
the  events  that  fall  out  in  time,  for  the  accomplishment  of 
the  great  and  glorious  ends  of  his  incarnation,  and  lasting 
good  of  those  that  love  him  ;  according  to  Psal.  ii,  6 ;  Isa. 
ix,  6,  7 ;  Isa.  xxxiii,  22  ;  Matth.  xxi,  5  ;  Isa.  Iv,  4,  5  ;  Gen. 
xlix,  10  ;  Ileb.  iii,  6  ;  Psal.  ex,  1,  2  ;  Matth.  xxviii,  18  ;  John 
vii,  2;  1  Pet.  iii,  22  ;  Phil,  ii,  9-11 ;  Confess,  chap,  viii  §  3; 
larg.  Cat.  quest.  45  ;  sh.  Cat.  quest.  26. 

They  again  declare  and  assert,  that  as  the  light  of  nature 
is  absolutely  insufficient  to  give  a  just  discovery,  either  of 
the  grievous  malady  of  sin,  or  the  blessed  remedy  provided 
for  sinners,  so  none,  however  diligent  they  may  be  to  frame 
their  lives  according  to  the  dictates  of  nature's  light,  can 
possibly  attain  to  salvation,  wdiile  they  remain  without  any 
objective  revelation  of  Jesus  Christ,  as  the  great  propitiation 
and  peace-maker,  who  has  abolished  death,  and  brought  life 
and  immortality  to  light,  by  the  gospel.  And  further,  that 
there  is  no  other  name,  doctrine  and  religion,  whereby  any 
can  be  saved,  but  in  the  name,  doctrine  or  religion  of  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  of  wh  ch  he  is  the  great  author  and  insti- 
tutor  ;  in  the  profession  and  faith  whereof,  he  leads  his  people 
through  this  world  into  the  possession  of  endless  felicity  and 
glory  in  the  world  to  come. 

yill.  Of  the  Gospel  Offer. — They  further  declare,  that, 
as  God  the  Father,  out  of  his  unbounded  love,  has,  on  the 
footing  of  the  infinite  sufficiency  of  the  death  and  sacrifice  of 
Christ,  made  a  free  and  unhampered  gift  and  grant  of  him, 
as  an  all-sufficient  Savior,  unto  sinners  of  mankind  lost,  aa 
such,  in  the  word  :  so  the  ministers  and  embassadors  of  Christ 
(according  as  they  are  expressly  authorized  and  commanded 
by  him)  are  to  publish  this  gospel,  these  glad-tidings  of  great 
joy  to  all  the  world,  wherever  they  may  be  called  or  cast,  in 
the  providence  of  God,  and  make  a  full,  free  and  unhampered 
otter  of  Christ  and  his  whole  salvation  to  sinners,  without 
distinction,  assuring  them  of  God's  mercy  and  grace,  through 
Christ,  in  whom  he  proclaims  himself  well  pleased  ;  of  Christ's 
onmipotent  power  and  ability  to  save  to  the  uttermost  all  that 
come  unto  God  by  him  ;  and  that  there  are  no  impediments, 
bars  or  hinderances,  ab  extra^  between  Jesus  Christ,  as  held 


[187] 

forth  in  the  otter  of  the  gospel,  unto  sinners  lost,  why  they, 
even  every  one  of  them,  may  not  receive  and  appropriate 
him,  as  the  Lord  their  righteousness.  And  the  above  said 
frank  and  unhampered  gift  of  Christ,  and  him  crucified,  by 
God  the  Father,  as  a  full  and  all-sufficient  Savior  unto  lost 
and  ruined  sinners,  the  presbytery  view  as  the  great  and 
prime  foundation,  both  of  the  ministerial  offer,  and  of  faith 
in  the  Lord  Jesus,  for  life  and  salvation  ;  as  is  clear  from 
Rom.  X,  14  ;  1  Cor.  i,  21-25 ;  Isa.  Iv,  1 ;  Mark  xvi,  15  ;  John 
iii,  16  ;  Confess,  chap,  vii,  §  3;  larg.  Cat.  ques.  67;  sh.  Cat. 
ques.  31,  &c. 

IX.  Of  Justification. — Again,  they  profess  and  declare,, 
that  the  active  and  passive  obedience,  or  the  complete  med- 
iatory righteousness,  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  is  the  only 
meritorious  cause  of  a  sinner's  justification,  pardon  of  sin, 
and  acceptance  of  his  person  and  services  with  a  holy  God  *,. 
and  that  true  and  saving  faith,  which  is  also  the  gift  of 
God,  is  the  alone  instrumental  cause  of  the  sinner's  justifi- 
cation in  his  sight ;  or  that  evangelical  condition,  or  in- 
ternal mean,  in  and  by  which  the  soul  is  interested  in  Christ, 
and  the  whole  of  his  righteousness  and  salvation.  Which 
righteousness,  received  and  rested  on  by  faith,  is  the  only 
foundation  of  a  sinner's  title  to  eternal  life  and  glory  ;  as 
appears  evident  from  Kom  iii,  22-29  ;  Rom.  v,  17-20 ;  Jer. 
xxiii,  6  ;  Gal.  ii,  16  ;  Acts  x,  43  ;  Col.  i,  27  ;  Acts  viii,  37  ; 
Rom.  X,  9  ;  Mark  v,  36  ;  Eph.  ii,  8  ;  Confess,  chap.  11,  14  \ 
larg.  Cat.  ques,  70,  73 ;  sh.  Cat.  ques.  3. 

They  likewise  profess  and  maintain,  that  believers,  by 
the  righteousness  of  Christ  being  just, tied  from  all  things,, 
from  which  they  could  not  be  justified  by  the  law  of  Moses, 
are  by  Jesus  Christ  perfectly  delivered  from  the  law,  as  a 
covenant  of  works,  both  as  commanding  and  condemning ; 
so  as  that  thereby  they  are  neither  justified  nor  condemned, 
it  being  dead  to  them,  and  they  to  it,  by  the  body  of  Christ, 
to  whom  they  are  married.  However,  notwithstanding  of 
this  freedom,  they  are  still  servants  unto  God  ;  still  under 
the  moral  law,  as  a  rule  of  life  in  the  hand  of  their  glorious 
Mediator  and  new  covenant  Head,  directing  them  how  they 
are  to  walk,  so  as  to  please  God  ;  the  obli2;ation  whereof,  as 
such,  remains  perpetual  and  ind  ssoluble ;  and  that  this 
privilege  is  peculiar  to  believers  only,  all  others  being  still 
under  the  old  covenant  obligation,  both  as  to  the  debt  of 
obedience  and  punishment ;  according  to  Rom.  vi,  14,  and 
vii,  4,  6;  Gal.  iv,  4,  5,  and  ii,  16  ;  Rom.  viii,  1 ;  Gal.  iii,  10 ; 
Confess,  chap,  xix,  §  5,  6  ;  larg.  Cat.  ques.  97  ;  sh.  Cat.  ques. 
43,  44. 


[188] 

X.  Of  Good  Works. — Again,  they  assert  and  declare,  that 
as  no  works  are  truly  and  spiritually  good,  but  those  that 
are  ])ertbrnied  hy  a  })eison  united  to  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ 
by  faith,  and  under  the  influence  of  his  Holy  Spirit;  and 
consequently,  that  none  of  the  actions  of  the  unregenerate, 
however  in  themselves  materially  agreeable  unto  the  letter 
of  the  law,  are  either  pleasing  or  accei)table  to  God ;  nor 
<3an  they  dispose  or  prepare  their  souls  for  receiving  his  grace, 
though  their  omission  and  neglect  of  these  is  still  more  dis- 
pleasing unto  God,  and  destructive  unto  themselves.  So 
likewise  they  declare,  that  even  the  best  works  of  obedience 
performed  by  the  regenerate,  can  neither  merit  the  pardon  of 
any  one  sin,  nor  procure  them  the  smallest  measure  or  God's 
grace  or  favor,  because  of  the  manifold  sins  and  imper- 
fections they  are  still  attended  with,  and  because  of  the  in- 
finite distance  between  God  and  them,  with  respect  to  whom, 
when  they  have  done  all  that  they  can,  they  are  but  un- 
protitable  servants.  [N'either  is  their  ability  to  do  them  at 
all  of  themselves,  but  wholly  from  the  Spirit  dwelling  in 
them.  And  further,  that  the  spring  and  principle  motive  of 
true  love  to  God,  and  acceptable  obedience  to  him,  is  not 
self-interest  or  love  to  our  own  felicity,  nor  yet  a  slavish  fear 
of  punishment ;  but  the  glorious  perfections  and  transcend- 
ent excellencies  of  the  Diety,  manifested  in  the  face  of  Jesus 
Christ,  who  is  the  brightness  of  the  Father's  glory,  and  ex- 
press image  of  his  person,  are  the  prime  and  chief  motives 
both  of  love,  fear  and  obedience  unto  God  ;  all  who  really 
love  God  loving  him  principally  for  himself.  As  also,  that 
all  acceptable  service  to  God,  performed  by  believers,  is 
princijtally  influenced  by  the  authority  of  a  God  of  grace, 
stam|>ed  upon  his  word,  springs  from  faith  in  Jesus  Christ, 
as  an  animating  and  active  principle  in  their  souls,  and  is 
ultimately  directed  to  the  glory  of  God  in  Christ,  as  the 
great  end  thereof.  Hence,  therefore,  although  God  has 
graciously  connected  his  own  glory  and  his  people's  felicity 
inseparably  together,  that  yet  no  actions,  however  good  in 
themselves  or  beneficial  to  others,  which  arise  only  from  a 
jirinciple  of  self-interest,  love  to  one's  own  bliss,  or  fear  of 
hell,  are  evidential  of  saving  grace  in  the  soul,  or  any  more 
than  what  one  in  a  state  of  nature  may  perform  ;  according 
to  Gen.  iv,  5  ;  lleb.  xi,  4,  6  ;  Matth.  vi,  2,  5, 16  ;  Hag.  ii,  14 ; 
Amos  V,  21,  22;  Tit.  i,  15,  and  iii,  5;  Rom.  iii,  20,  and  iv, 
2,  4,  6;  Job.  xxii,  2,  8 ;  E})h.  i,  6 ;  1  Pet.  ii,  5  ;  Exod  xxviii, 
38  ;  Confess,  chap.  16  throughout ;  larg.  Cat.  ques.  73,  101  ; 
fih.  Cat.  ques.  44. 

XI.  Of  Assurance  of  Grace. — In  like  manner  they  de- 


[189] 

clare  and  assert,  that  although  there  may  be  much  darkness, 
and  manifold  doubts  and  fears,  seated  in  the  same  soul  where 
true  and  saving  faith  is:  and  although  true  believers  may 
wait  long  before  they  know  themselves  to  be  believers,  and 
be  assured  that  they  are  really  in  a  state  of  grace ;  and  even, 
after  they  have  arrived  at  a  subjective  assurance  of  their 
salvation,  may  have  it  much  shaken,  clouded  and  intermit- 
ted ;  that  yet  there  is  no  doubting,  no  darkness,  in  the  sav- 
ing acts  of  a  true  and  lively  faith:  but  in  all  the  appropriat- 
ing acts  of  saving  faith,  there  is  an  objective  assurance,  an 
assured  confidence  and  trust  in  Jesus  Christ,  and  the  prom- 
ise of  life  in  which  he  is  revealed  to  the  soul;  according  to 
Isa.  1,  10  ;  Mark  ix,  24 ;  1  John  v,  13  ;  Psal.  Ixxvii,  1  to'll ; 
Psal.  Ixxxviii,  throughout;  Gal.  ii,  20;  Mark  xi,  24;  Con- 
fess, chap.  18  throughout ;  larg.  Cat.  ques.  72,  80,  81 ;  short. 
Cat.  ques.  86. 

XII.  Of  the  Perseverance  of  the  Saints. — They  further 
assert  and  declare,  that  whosoever,  of  any  of  the  children  of 
men,  in  all  aa'cs,  have  attained  salvation,  did  believe  in,  and 
receive  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the  promised  Messiah,  and 
only  Savior  from  sin,  to  whom  all  the  prophets  bear  witness, 
in  whom  all  the  promises  and  lines  of  salvation  do  center ; 
and  particularly,  that  however  much  the  faith  of  the  dis- 
ciples and  apostles  of  our  Lord  and  Savior  Jesus  Christ  in  him, 
as  their  only  Redeemer,  might  be  at  any  time  overclouded, 
yet  it  was  never  totally  subverted ;  and  that  the  noble  grace 
of  faith  in  the  souls  of  believers  cannot  be  totally  lost ;  but 
that  such  is  the  immutability  of  God's  decrees,  and  his  un- 
changeable love ;  such  the  efficacy  of  their  Redeemer's 
merit,  and  constant  abiding  of  the  spirit  of  holiness  in  them ; 
and  such  the  nature  of  the  new  covenant,  that,  notwith- 
standing of  various  temptations  and  afflictions,  the  prevail- 
ing of  remaining  corruption  in  them,  they  must  all  and 
every  one  of  them,  certainly  and  infallibly  persevere  in  a  state 
of  grace  unto  the  end,  and  be  at  last  saved  with  an  everlast- 
ing salvation  ;  as  appears  from  Heb.  xi,  13  ;  John  iv,  42  ; 
Phil,  i,  6 ;  John  x,  28,  29  ;  1  Pet.  ii,  9  ;  Jer.  xxxiv,  4 ;  Con- 
fess, chap.  8,  §  1,  chap.  14,  §  2,  and  chap.  17  throughout. 

XIII.  Of  Liberty  of  Conscience. — They  further  assert 
and  declare,  that  the  noble  faculty  of  conscience,  God's  dep- 
uty in  the  soul  of  man,  over  which  alone  he  is  absolute  Lord 
and  Sovereign,  is  not  subjected  unto  the  authority  of  man ; 
neither  are  any  human  commands  further  binding  upon  the 
consciences  of  men,  than  they  are  agreeable  unto,  and 
founded  upon  the  revealed  will  of  God,  whether  in  matters 
of  faith  or  practice.     And  although  the  Lord   Jesus  Christ 


[190] 

has  purchased  a  glorious  liberty  unto  believers  from  sin,  and 
all  the  bitter  fruits  thereof,  and  of  access  to  a  throne  of  grace 
with  boldness;  and  has  procured  unto  his  church  freedom 
from  the  yoke  of  the  ceremonial  law,  with  a  more  abundant 
communication  of  gospel  influences  :  yet,  inasmuch  as  con- 
science is  the  rule  ruled,  not  the  rule  ruling,  none  can,  with- 
out manifest  sin,  upon  pretense  of  conscience  or  christian 
liberty,  cherish  any  forbidden  lust  in  their  souls,  nor  are  left 
at  freedom  to  reject  any  of  the  divine  ordinances  instituted 
in  the  word,  to  change  or  corrupt  their  scriptural  institution, 
by  immixing  human  inventions  therewith,  or  in  the  least 
deviating  from  the  purity  thereof.  And  that  therefore,  all 
who  vent  or  maintain  tenets  or  opinions,  contrary  to  the 
established  principles  of  Christianity,  whether  in  the  matter 
of  doctrine,  divine  worship,  or  practice  in  lite,  which  are 
contrary  to,  and  inconsistent  with  the  analogy  of  faith,  and 
power  of  true  godliness,  or  destructive  to  that  pure  peace 
and  good  order  established  by  Christ  in  his  church,  are 
accountable  unto  the  church  ;  and  upon  conviction,  ought 
to  be  proceeded  against,  by  inflicting  ecclesiastical  censures 
or  civil  pains,  in  a  way  agreeable  unto  the  divine  determina- 
tion in  the  word  concerning  such  offenses. 

And  further,  they  declare,  that  it  is  most  wicked,  and  what 
manifestly  strikes  against  the  sovereign  authority  of  God, 
for  any  power  on  earth  to  pretend  to  tolerate,  and,  by  sanc- 
tion of  civil  law,  to  give  license  to  men  to  publish  and  pro- 
pagate with  impunity,  whatever  errors,  heresies,  and  damn- 
able doctrines,  Satan,  and  their  own  corrupt  and  blinded  un- 
derstandings, nvciy  prompt  them  to  believe  and  embrace ; 
toleration  being  destructive  of  all  true  religion,  and  of  that 
liberty  wherewith  Clirist  has  made  his  people  free  ;  and  the 
great  end  thereof,  which  is,  "  That  being  delivered  out  of 
the  hands  of  our  enemies,  we  may  serve  tlie  Lord — in  holi- 
ness and  righteousness,  all  the  days  of  our  lives."  Agreeable 
to  James  iv,  12;  Rom,  xiv,  4;  Acts  iv,  19,  and  v.  29 ;  1 
Cor.  vii,  23  ;  Matth.  xxVii,  9  ;  2  John  10,  11 ;  2  Cor.  i,  24 ; 
Matth.  XV,  9 ;  Col.  ii,  20,  22,  23  ;  Gal.  ii,  4,  5,  and  v.  1,  13 ; 
Isa.  viii,  20 ;  Acts  xvii,  11  ;  Hosea  v.  11 ;  1  Cor.  v.  1,  5,  11, 
13;  Tit.  1,10,11,13,  and  iii,  20;  Matth.  xviii,  15-17  ;  Deut. 
xiii,  6-12 ;  Ezek.  vii,  23,  25,  26  ;  Zech.  xiii,  2,  3  ;  Rev.  ii,  2, 
14,  15,  20;  Confess,  chap.  20;  larg.  Cat.  quest.  100,  103; 
sh.  Cat.  quest.  49,  50. 

XIV.  Of  Testimony-Bearing. — Again,  they  declare  and 
assert,  that  all  true  believers,  members  of  the  church  invis- 
ible, are  by  the  indissoluble  bond  of  the  Spirit,  and  true  faith 
in  Christ,  their  Head,  savinglj^  united  unto,  and  have  com- 


[191] 

munion  with  him  in  grace  and  in  glory,  in  this  life  and  the 
life  to  come.  In  all  their  afflictions,  he  is  afflicted,  and  shares 
with  them  in  their  suH'erings  and  trials,  is  with  them  in  and 
through  death,  exalteth  them  at  last  over  all  their  enemies, 
receiving  them  into  glory  and  blessedness  with  himself,  that 
they  may  behold  and  share  in  his  glory  with  him  throuo-h 
eternity  :  and  that  all  of  them  being  knit  and  joined  together 
in  holy  love  and  affection,  do  participate  mutually  of  each, 
others  gifts  and  graces  ;  and  are  indis])ensably  bound  to  ex- 
ercise themselves  in  the  practice  of  all  commanded  duties, 
for  preserving  the  love  of  Grod,  and  life  of  grace,  in  their  own, 
and  one  another's  souls.  And  further,  they  declare  that  the 
visible  church,  and  the  members  thereof,  are  externally  in 
covenant  with  Christ  their  Head,  have  one  and  the  same 
Lord,  profess  the  same  faith  in  doctrine  and  worship,  receive 
the  same  seals  of  God's  covenant,  baptism,  and  the  Lord's 
Supper :  and  are  thereby  bound  to  hold  fast  the  Head,  to  be 
subject  to  his  authority,  keep  the  faith  they  have  received, 
and  maintain  an  holy  communion  and  fellowship  in  the 
worship  of  God;  closely  abiding  by  the  standard  of  Christ, 
their  captain  and  leader,  and  lifting  up  the  banner  of  divine 
truth,  in  opposition  unto,  and  holy  contempt  of  all  their 
enemies  of  every  kind.  And  further,  they  affirm,  that  as  the 
visible  church  in  general,  is  bound  to  be  faithful  to  Christ, 
their  Head  and  Lord,  and  to  preserve,  inviolate,  the  whole 
of  that  sacred  depositum  of  truth  wherewith  she  is  intrusted 
by  him,  not  quitting  with,  nor  willfully  apostatizing  from 
the  same,  in  profession  or  practice:  so  no  particular  subject 
of  this  spiritual  kingdom  of  Christ  can  recede  from  any  part 
of  divine  truth,  which  they  have  received,  and  whereof  they 
have  made  profession,  without  lese-majesty  unto  the  Son  of 
God,  and  violation  of  their  obligations  they  have  come  under, 
at  receiving  the  seals  of  the  covenant,  with  whatever  other 
lawful  vows  they  have  made  unto  the  Most  High  ;  according 
to  1  John  i,  2,  3 ;  Eph.  iii,  16-19 ;  John  i,  16 ;  Heb.  x,  24, 
25  ;  Acts  ii,  42,  46  ;  Eph.  iv,  4-6  ;  Phil,  iii,  16  ;  Rev.  ii,  25, 
and  iii,  3 ;  Confess,  chap.  2,  6  ;  larg.  Cat.  quest.  63 ;  short 
Cat.  quest.  50. 

XV.  Of  Church  Government. — They  likewise  affirm  and 
declare,  that  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  our  exalted  Immanuel, 
the  sole  and  supreme  Head,  Lawgiver  and  King  of  his  church, 
which  is  his  spiritual  and  absolutely  free  and  independent 
kingdom,  has  herein  warranted,  instituted  and  ai)pointed 
certain  office  bearers  (who  derive  their  mission  and  authority 
from  him  alone)  to  regulate,  administer,  judge  and  determine 
in  all  the  affairs  of  his  house,  to  whom  alone  the  keys  of  the 


[192] 

kingdom  of  heaven  are  by  him  committed.  Particularly, 
they  are  intrusted  with  the  key  of  doctrine,  to  discover  the 
mind  of  God,  and  preach  Christ  crucified  unto  sinners; 
the  key  of  government  for  preserving  that  beauty  of  order, 
purity  and  power  in  the  house  of  God,  which  he  has  enjoined 
should  take  place  therein  ;  the  key  of  discipline,  to  intlict 
ecclesiastical  censures  upon  such  as  turn  aside  after  their 
crooked  ways^  or  continue  obstinate  in  their  offenses  ;  the  key 
of  ordination  and  mediate  mission,  inordinary  circumstances 
of  the  church,  solemnly  to  set  apart  and  send  forth  church 
officers  unto  that  sacred  function  and  official  trust  in  tlie 
house  of  God,  on  the  regular  trial  of  the  suitableness  of  their 
gifts  and  qualiiications  for  that  spiritual  service  and  min- 
istration ;  according  to  1  Cor.  xii,  28  ;  Eph.  iv,  11  ;  Matth. 
xviii,  19  ;  John  xx,  23  ;  Matth.  xviii,  18  ;  Acts  xv,  through- 
out, and  xvi,  4;  Matth.  xxviii,  19,  20;  Mark  xvi,  15  ;  Acts 
vi,  6;  1  Tim.  iv,  14,  and  iii,  10  ;  Confess,  chap.  30,  §  2,  3  and 
31  ;  §  3.  Form  of  church  government,  books  of  discii>line, 
and  the  several  laudable  acts  and  constitutions  of  this  church  ; 
particularly,  Act  of  Assati.  at  Ediyibargh,  August  4th  1649, 
Sess.  4,  entitled,  Directory  for  electing  of  ministers. 

They  likewise  assert  and  maintain,  that  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  the  church's  glorious  Head,  lialh  appointed  a  certain 
form  of  government  therein,  distinct  from  civil  goverLment, 
and  not  at  all  subordinate  to  civil  rulers.  And  that  the  only 
ecclesiastical  government  warranted  by  Christ  in  his  word,  and 
to  continue  in  his  church  unalterable,  is  presbyterial  church 
ox)vernment,  exclusive  of  all  superior  dignity  above  a  teach- 
ing presbyter,  and  consisting  in  her  judicative  capacity  of 
kirk  sessions,  in  subordination  to  presbyteries  ;  of  presbyteries 
in  subordination  to  provincial  synods  ;  of  provincianal  synods, 
in  subordination  to  national ;  and  national  to  oecumenical 
assemblies,  or  general  councils. 

And  further,  they  assert,  that  the  office-bearers  of  the  Lord's 
house,  are,  according  to  the  command,  and  in  the  name  and 
authority  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the  only  Lawgiver  and 
King  of  his  church,  and  by  virtue  of  the  church's  intrinsic 
power  derived  from  Christ,  to  assemble,  constitute  and  ad- 
journ these  several  courts  of  his  house,  nominate  the  fixed  or 
occasional  times  of  their  subsequent  meetings,  as  the  church's 
condition  or  exigencies  require  ;  although  they  grant  that 
the  christian  magistrate  may,  in  extraordinary  cases,  or 
otherwise,  call  tOi-ether  a  synod  of  ministers,  and  other  fit 
persons,  for  consultation  and  advice  in  religious  matters  :  but 
in  which  they  have  no  power  to  judge  or  determine  in  mat- 
ters of  faith  ;  but  only  discretively  to  examine,  whether  the 


[198  J 

synod's  determinations  and  decisions  be  consonant  and  agree- 
able to  scripture,  and  accordingly  to  acquiesce  tberein  :  Isa. 
ix,  6,  7  ;  Ezek.  xliii,  10,  11 ;  Acts  xv,  2,  4,  6  ;  1  Tim.  v.  17  ; 
lleb.  xiii,  17;  2  Chron.  xix,  8-11;  Acts  xvii,  11  ;  Confess, 
chap.  30,  §  1  and  chap.  31,  §  1,  2,  and  conform  to  act  of  as- 
sendjly,  anno  16-17  ;  §  2,  3  ;  2d  book  of  discipline,  and  pro- 
positions for  church  government. 

They  likewise  assert  and  maintain,  that  the  office-bearers 
in  the  church  of  Christ,  according  to  their  different  places 
and  stations  therein,  must  give  evidence  of  their  being  pos- 
sessed in  some  suitable  measure  of  the  qualitications  which 
God  in  his  word  requires  to  be  in  any  that  are  to  be  placed 
in  such  stations  or  othces,  particularly  that  of  devotedness  to 
the  cause  and  honor  of  Christ.  And  they  further  assert,  that 
ministers  of  the  gospel,  and  other  church  officers,  must  enter 
into  the  exercise  of  their  office,  at  the  door  of  Christ's  appoint- 
ment, by  the  call  and  choice  of  the  christian  people,  wdio  are 
capable  with  judgment  to  give  their  consent;  1  Tim.  iii,from 
verse  2  to  12 ;  Tit.  i,  5,  6,  7  ;  Acts  vi,  2  to  6  ;  Chap,  xiv,  23 ; 
John  X,  4,  5,  and  agreeable  to  the  laudable  acts  and  ordinances 
of  this  church  and  state,  in  favor  of  reformation  principles, 
books  of  discipline,  &c. 

XVI.  Of  Civil  Government. — In  like  manner  they  assert 
and  maintain,  that  God  Almighty,  the  Sovereign  Lord  of  all 
things,  and  special  protector  and  preserver  of  his  professed 
subjects  in  this  lower  world,  hath  for  his  own  glory  and  the 
public  good,  authorized  and  instituted  in  his  word  the  office 
and  ordinance  of  civil  government  and  governors,  for  the 
preservation  of  external  peace  and  concord,  administration  of 
justice,  defense  and  encouragement  of  such  as  are,  and  do 
good,  and  punishment  of  evil  doers,  who  transgress  either 
table  of  the  law.  For  all  which  ends,  subordinate  unto  that 
of  his  own  glory,  God,  the  alone  supreme  fountain  of  all 
power,  has  instituted  and  appointed  this  ordinance.  And 
further  they  maintain,  that  a  due  measure  of  those  qualifica- 
tions wdiich  God,  the  great  lawgiver  requires  in  his  word, 
together  with  what  other  stipulations,  according  to  the  same 
unerring  rule,  a  christian  people,  who  are  blessed  w^ith  the 
light  of  divine  revelation,  have  made  the  fundamental 
conditions  of  civil  government  among  them,  are  essentially 
necessary  to  the  constitution  and  investiture  of  lawful  au- 
thority over  such  peojile.  Ko  other  but  such  a  constitution 
or  investiture,  can  either  be  approven  of  by  God,  or  answer 
the  ends,  ultimate  or  subordinate,  of  this  ordinance,  unto  the 
honor  of  tlie  great  institutor,  as  appears  from  I'rov.  vui,  15, 
16;  Psa.  cxlvii,  19,  20,  and  cxlix,  6,  7,  8,  9 ;  Isa.  xlix,  23; 


[194] 

Rom.  xiii,  1,  2,  3,  4  ;  Deut.  xvii,  14,  15  ;  2  Sam.  xxiii,  2,  3, 
4 ;  Exod.  xviii,  21.  Confess,  chap.  23,  §  1.  Seasonable  warn- 
ing by  the  general  assembly,  July  27,  1649.  Act  15,  Sess.  2, 
Pari.  1,  1640. 

They  further  assert  and  maintain,  that  the  constituting  of 
the  relation  betwixt  rulers  and  ruled,  is  voluntary  and  mu- 
tual ;  and  that  the  lawful  constitution  of  civil  magistrates, 
is,  by  the  mutual  election  of  the  people  (in  whom  is  the 
radical  right,  or  intermediate  voice  of  God,  of  choosing  and 
appointing  such  as  are  to  sway  the  scepter  of  government 
over  them)  and  consent  of  those  who  are  elected  and  chosen 
for  the  exercise  of  that  office,  with  certain  stipulations 
according  to  scripture  and  right  reason,  obliging  each  other 
unto  the  duty  of  their  different  stations  and  relations.  And 
further  they  affirm  that  when  magistrates  are  so  constituted, 
christians  are  bound  by  the  law  of  God  to  pray  for  the  divine 
blessing  upon  their  persons  and  government,  reverence  and 
highly  esteem  them,  yield  a  conscientious  subjection  and 
obedience  to  their  lawful  commands,  defend  and  support  them 
in  the  due  exercise  of  their  p^ower ;  which  power  magistrates 
are  especially  to  exert  for  the  outward  defense  of  the  church 
of  God,  against  all  her  external  enemies,  restraining  or 
otherwise  punishing,  as  the  case  may  require,  all  open  blas- 
phemers, idolaters,  talse-worshipers,  heretics,  with  all  avowed 
contemners  of  the  worship  and  discipline  of  the  house  of 
God  ;  and  by  his  civil  sanction  to  corroborate  all  the  laws 
and  ordinances  of  Christ's  house,  providing  and  enjoining 
that  every  thing  in  the  house  of  the  God  of  heaven,  be  done 
according  to  the  law  of  the  God  of  heaven ;  Deut.  xvii,  14  ; 
2  Kings  xi,  17  ;  1  Sam.  xi,  15  ;  1  Tim.  ii,  1,  2  ;  1  Peter  ii,  17  ; 
Pom.  xiii,  2  to  8 ;  2  Kings  xviii,  4,  and  xxiii,  1  to  26  ;  2  Chron. 
xxix,  and  xxx,  chapters  throughout ;  Ezra  vii,  23.  Confess, 
chap.  23,  §  3,  coronation  oath  of  Scotland^  sworn  and  sub- 
scribed by  Charles  II.  at  Scone,  January  1st,  1651,  and  oath 
of  fidelity  by  the  people. 

XVII.  Of  Corruptions  in  the  two  Preceding  Ordinances. 
But,  with  respect  to  these  two  great  ordinances  of  divine 
institution,  the  magistracy  and  ministry,  with  the  qualifica- 
tions of  the  persons  and  duty  of  the  people,  as  before  asserted, 
the  presbytery  reject,  like  as  they  did,  and  hereby  do  reject 
and  condemn  the  following  contrary  errors,  tenets  and 
opinions,  whether  of  older  or  later  date,  vented  either  by 
open  enemies  or  professed  friends  to  the  reformation  cause. 
And, 

1.  They  reject  and  condemn  that  loose  latitudinarian 
tenet  and  opinion  of  opening  the  door  of  communion  with 


[195] 

the  church  in  her  judicative  capacity,  or  sealing  ordinances, 
unto  the  grossly  ignorant,  loose,  careless,  profane  and  scanda- 
lous :  and  to  the  antichristian  deist,  blasphemous  heretic,  or 
any  who  maintain  doctrines,  principles  and  opinions  con- 
trary to,  and  eversive  of  the  cardinal  and  fundamental  doc- 
trines of  Christianity,  or  such  principles  and  practices  as 
oppose,  obscure  or  darken  the  church's  beauty  and  purity,  and 
spoil  her  of  her  power,  and  particularly  that  of  the  church 
of  Scotland^  in  her  attainments  in  reformation  ;  this  being 
evidently  destructive  and  ruinous  to  truth  and  holiness,  the 
only  foundation  and  basis  of  external  union  and  concord  in 
the  church,  and  consequently  of  all  durable,  harmonious  and 
comfortable  communion  among  the  ministers  and  members 
of  Christ's  mystical  body :  See  Eph.  v,  11 ;  Isa.  viii,  20 ; 
Amos  iii,  3  ;  1  Cor.  vi,  10  ;  Ileb.  xii,  14 ;  Rev.  xxii,  14,  15  ; 
2  Cor.  vi,  17,  18  ;  and  conform  to  the  acts  and  practice  of 
this  church,  in  her  best  and  purest  times,  in  excluding  from 
her  communion,  and  refusing  to  unite  with  any  chargeable 
as  above. 

Again,  they  hereby  reject  that  false  and  ungodly  principle 
and  opinion.  That  a  God  of  infinite  wisdom  has  left  his 
professing  people  destitute  of  any  declaration  of  his  will 
(which  they  are  absolutely  bound  to  regard)  concerning  both 
the  institution,  administration  and  qualifications  of  such 
persons  as  should  administer  these  two  distinct  ordinances, 
government,  civil  and  ecclesiastical ;  or  that  these  two 
different  species  of  government  have  not  their  foundation 
and  institution,  as  the  ordinances  of  God,  in  his  revealed 
will ;  but  that  either  (with  the  corrupt  revolution  church) 
he  hath  left  the  government  of  his  house  a  matter  of  indiffer- 
ence, and  the  pattern  thereof  to  be  moulded  by  the  discre- 
tion of  the  wise  men  of  this  world,  and  according  to  the 
corrupt  will  and  fluctuating  inclination  of  the  people;  or, 
with  their  public  resolution-brethren,  the  Seceders,  ex- 
changing the  clear  scriptural  and  covenant  basis  of  civil  gov- 
ernment, with  the  obscure  foundation  of  the  law  and  light 
of  nature,  or  the  more  dissolute  basis  of  mere  election  and 
acknowledgment  of  whomsoever  the  primores  regni^  though 
never  so  wicked  and  licentious,  choose  and  set  up  as  magis- 
trates. Which  notion  contains  an  injurious  and  impious 
impeachment  of  divine  revelation,  as  a  rule  imperfect  and 
insufficient  to  guide  christians  into  the  knowledge  of  the 
will  of  God,  and  their  duty,  as  the  peculiar  and  professed 
subjects  of  the  King  of  kings,  and  supreme  lawgiver,  con- 
cerning all  his  ordinances;  and  is  contrary  to  2  Tim.  iii,  16  ; 
Rom.  ii,  14  ;  Ezek.  xliii,  11  ;  and  xliv,  5  ;  Lev.  xviii,  2,  3,  4, 
5  ;  Matt,  xxviii,  20.     Confess,  chap.  23,  §  3. 


[196] 

They  in  like  manner  reject  and  condemn  the  ecclesiastical 
headship  of  the  church,  blasphemously  arrogated  by  that 
man  of  sin,  and  son  of  perdition  the  Pope  of  Rome;  with  all 
that  superiority  of  dig'n.ity  and  office  in  the  house  of  God,, 
claimed  by  antichristian  prelates,  together  with  the  whole  of 
their  hierarchical  order,  and  the  civil  places  and  power  of 
churchmen,  by  both  usurped  ;  which  is  a  most  wicked  attempt 
to  overturn  God  the  Father's  deed,  constituting  his  Son 
Christ,  sole  King  and  Head  of  his  church,  an  exauctorating 
of  Jesus  Christ  from  his  throne,  and  headship  in  his  church, 
an  elevation  of  his  ministers,  contrary  to  his  will,  and  the 
nature  and  ends  of  their  office  ;  and  an  antiscriptural  and 
confused  blending  together  of  diiferent  and  distinct  ordi- 
nances. Psa.  ii,6;  Isa.  ix,  6,  and  xxii,  24;  Col.  i,  18;  Mark 
X,  42,43 ;  Luke  xxii,  25,  26  ;  1  Pet.  v,B  ;  2  Chron.  xix,  12  ; 
1  Cor.  vii,  2.  Confess,  chap.  25,  §  6,  and  contrary  to  our 
solemn  covenants,  and  many  acts  and  ordinances  of  both 
church  and  state,  in  times  of  reformation. 

They  likewise  reject  and  condemn  that  gross  Erast'an 
principle,  That  the  civil  magistrate  is  supreme  head  over  all 
persons,  and  in  all  causes,  ecclesiastical  as  well  as  civil, 
whether  in  more  ancient  and  later  times  of  tyranny  and 
})ersecution,  openly  and  blasphemously  usurped,  or  at  and 
since  the  Revolution,  more  craftily  yet  too  manifestly 
claimed ;  as  appears  from  the  37th  article  of  the  church  of 
England^  and  king's  declaration  prefixed  to  the  said  articles  : 
and  is  further  evident  from  the  many  encroachments  made 
upon  the  royal  dignity  and  headship  of  Christ,  by  the 
usurpers  of  his  throne,  practically  vesting  themselves  with 
power  and  authority  to  convene  and  adjourn  at  their 
pleasure,  and  give  laws  and  ordinances  to  the  church,  which 
is  a  daring  attack  on  the  prerogative,  sovereignty,  wisdom 
and  power  of  her  absolute  King  and  Lord,  on  whom,  as  a 
nail  fastened  in  a  sure  place,  his  Father  has  hung  all  the 
glory  of  his  house,  and  vested  him  with  the  sole  sui>remacy 
over  the  same,  being  filled  abundantly  with  the  spirit  of 
wisdom  and  understanding,  with  the  spirit  of  counsel  and 
of  might,  to  direct  and  preside  in  the  management  of  all 
her  concerns,  and  to  preserve  from  and  overcome  all  her 
enemies ;  Isa.  xxii,  24,  and  xi,  2,  3,  and  ix,  6 ;  Col.  i,  18  ; 
Eph.  i,  22;  2  Chr.  xxvi,  18;  lleb.  v,  4;  Confess,  chap.  25, 
§6. 

They  also  reject  and  condemn  that  Erastian  tenet  and 
opinion,  that  the  whole  or  any  part  of  the  power,  mission, 
qualifications,  or  administration  of  ecclesiastical  officers,  or 
ministers  of  the  church  of  Chr.st,  depends  upon  the  authority 


[197] 

tind  dicfation  of  the  civil  magistrate, because  it  is  manifestly 
destructive  of  the  church's  power  and  authority,  under 
Christ  her  Head,  and  derived  from  him,  and  likewise  of  the 
ministerial  freedom  and  faithfulness  of  Christ's  embassadors  : 
and  particularly  they  reject  and  condenni,  as  gross  Eras- 
tianism  (whether  practiced  before  or  since  the  Revolution, 
and  especially  since  the  incorporating  union  with  England^ 
on  terms  diametrically  op[)Osite  to  our  covenant  union),  the 
civil  magistrate's  limiting  the  mission  of  office-bearers  in  the 
church,  according  to  his  will ;  prescribing  certain  qualifica- 
tions, and  restricting  to  certain  limitations  ;  such  as  the  test, 
indulgences,  allegiance,  assurance,  and  abjuration  oaths,  act 
restoring  patronages,  and  the  act  anent  Porteous^  together 
with  the  threatened  deprivation  of  office  and  benefice,  upon 
non-compliance;  1  Cor.  xii,  28;  Matt,  xviii,  17,18;  John 
XX,  23. 

They  further  reject  and  condemn  that  Erastian  opinion, 
that  the  external  government  of  Christ's  house  is  left  unto 
the  precarious  determination  of  sinful  men,  or  hath  either  its 
immediate  or  mediate  dependence  upon  the  will  and 
pleasure  of  the  civil  magistrate,  according  to  the  import  of 
the  claim  of  right,  the  antiscriptural  basis  of  the  revolution 
settlement.  Th  s  being  evidently  an  impious  reflection  on 
the  perfect  wisdom  of  the  church's  Head,  subversive  of  the 
beauty  of  his  house,  and  fertile  of  disorder  therein,  laying 
the  kingdom  of  Christ  obnoxious  to  spiritual  tyranny  and 
oppression,  when  strangers,  enemies,  or  such  as  have  no  call 
or  warrant  to  build  the  house  of  the  Lord,  put  to  their  hand 
to  model  the  form  of  her  government  as  best  suits  their  per- 
verse inclinations  and  secular  views,  in  express  contradiction 
to  the  will  and  law  of  the  God  of  heaven,  Exod.  xxv,  40, 
and  xxvi,  30 ;  Ezek.  xliii,  11  ;  1  Chron.  xv,  12,  13  ;  i*^eh.  ii, 
20,  with  many  other  texts  above  cited. 

Again  they  reject  and  condemn  the  latitudinarian  tenet, 
That  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the  alone  Head  of  the  church, 
hath  left  his  house  void  of  any  particular  form  of  govern- 
ment, of  divine  institution  exclusive  of  all  other,  under  the 
New  Testament  dispensation:  which  is  a  manifest  reflection 
upon  his  fidelity  to  him  who  appointed  him,  and  most 
absurd  to  suppose  of  him  who  is  true  and  faithful,  as  a  Son 
over  his  ow^n  house,  and  contrary  to  Isa.  ix,  6,  7  ;  1  Tim.  v, 
17 ;  Heb.  iii,  2,  3,  5  ;  1  Cor.  xii,  28 ;  Rom.  xii,  6,  7,  8;  Acts 
XX,  17,  28  ;  Matt,  xxviii,  20.  Confess,  chap.  30,  §  1,  and  to 
the  propos  tions  for  church  government. 

They  further  reject  and  condemn  that  sectarian  princ"ple 
^nd  tenet,  whether  in  former  or  latter  times   maintained. 


[198] 

that  a  kirk  session,  or  particular  congregational  eldership,  i& 
vested  with  equal  ecclesiastical  power  and  authority,  with 
any  superior  judicatory,  and  is  neither  subordinate  nor  ac- 
countable to  them  (in  the  Lord)  in  their  determinations. 
They  likewise  reject  as  sectarian.  That  the  community  of  the 
faithful  or  professing  christians,  in  a  private  station  hath 
any  scriptural  warrant  for  public  teaching,  or  judicative  de- 
termination in  the  church  ;  both  which  opinions  are  not  only 
expressly  contrary  to  scripture,  Acts  xv,  throughout,  and 
xvi,  4  ;  1  Cor.  v,  4  ;  1  Tim.  v.  17  ;  Ileb.  v,  4,  and  xiii,  17,  &c.,. 
but  also  have  been  found  hitherto  most  hurtful  and  danger- 
ous to  the  church  of  God,  depriving  her  ministers  and  mem- 
bers of  just  and  necessary  recourse  to  superior  judgment  and 
decision  in  matters  difficult,  discrediting  and  prostituting- 
the  sacred  office  of  the  ministry,  and  tending  to  overthrow 
a  standing  ministry  in  the  church  of  Christ,  and  subvert 
that  comely  and  beautiful  order  he  hath  prescribed  therein. 

In  like  manner  they  reject  and  condemn  that  gross  inva- 
sion and  encroachment  upon  the  church's  liberties,  by  the 
intrusion  of  popish  patronages,  whether  imposed  as  a  law  by 
civil,  or  executed  by  ecclesiastical  powers.  Of  the  latter  of 
these,  the  ministers  and  judicatories  of  the  now  corrupt, 
harlot  Church  of  Scotland^  cannot  but  be  more  egregiously 
guilty.  The  nature  of  their  sacred  function  and  trust 
obliges  them  to  preserve  inviolate  the  church's  freedom  and 
liberties:  but  in  place  of  this,  their  hands  are  chief  in  the 
trespass^  in  an  authoritative  and  active  enforcement  of  this 
wicked  act — an  act  evidently  destructive  of  the  very  nature 
and  essence  of  that  mutual  relation  between  pastor  and  peo- 
ple, and  which  has  the  native  and  necessary  tendency  to- 
schism  in  the  church,  spiritual  leanness,  and  starving  of  the 
flock,  by  thrusting  in  idle,  idol  shepherds  upon  them,  such 
as  serve  not  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  but  their  own  bellies  ; 
feed  themselves,  but  not  the  flock ;  and  seek  not  them,  but 
theirs,  contrary  to  John  x,  2,  9  ;  Heb.  v,  4 ;  1  Tim.  iii,  3  ; 
1  Cor.  xii,  14;  with  many  more  ;  and  to  acts  of  both  church 
and  state,  in  times  of  reformation  in  these  covenanted  lands. 

But,  on  the  other  hand,  that  the  presbytery,  when  thus 
condescending  on  particulars,  pass  not  over  in  sinful  silence, 
w^hat  stands  opposite  to  the  word  of  God  and  their  declared 
principles,  as  above  concernng  civil  authority,  the  adminis- 
trators thereof,  and  subjection  of  the  jieople  thereto:  they 
reject,  likeas  they  hereby  reject  and  condemn  that  antiscript- 
ural  principle  and  opinion,  that  the  divine  scriptural  ordin- 
ance of  magistracy  has  not  its  foundation  in  the  moral  pre- 
ceptive law  of  God  (wherein  alone  his  will  is  revealed  and 


[199] 

declared  unto  his  people,  concerning  the  nature,  use,  and 
ends  of  all  his  ordinances),  bat  in  the  subjective  light  of 
nature  (even  as  corrupted),  so  confused  and  dark  in  its  dis- 
coveries, so  gross  and  seliish  in  its  principles,  motives  and 
ends,  that  neither  the  true  nature  of  this,  nor  any  other  of 
the  ordinances  of  Jehovah,  as  revealed  in  his  word,  can 
hereby  be  known,  or  the  true  use  and  ends  thereof  sufficiently 
discovered  or  obtained. 

They  likewise  testify  against,  and  reject  that  equally  ab- 
surd opinion,  as  a  stream  flowing  from  the  foresaid  corrupt 
fountain,  that  the  office,  authority,  and  constitution  of  law- 
ful magistrates,  does  not  solely  belong  to  professing  christ- 
ians, in  a  christian  reformed  land,  but  that  the  election  and 
choice  of  any  one  whosoever,  made  by  the  civil  body  (whether 
Pagan,  Papist,  Atheist,  Deist,  or  other  enemy  to  God,  to 
man,  and  to  true  religion),  makes  up  tlie  whole  of  what  is 
essential  to  the  constitution  of  a  lawful  magistrate  accord- 
ing to  God's  ordinance.  A  tenet  contrary  to  the  light  and 
dictates  both  of  reason  and  scripture. 

And  they  hereby  also  disclaim  that  corrupt  notion,  that 
all  providential  magistrates,  who  are,  and  while  they  are 
acknowledged  by  any  civil  society,  especial l}^  in  an  apostate 
backsliding  land  and  people  from  the  scriptural  standard  (in 
respect  to  the  origin  of  their  office),  are  also  preceptive  ;  and 
that  the  office  and  authority  of  all  so  constituted  and  ac- 
knowledged, in  itself  considered,  does  equally  arise  from,  and 
agree  unto  the  preceptive  will  of  God,  contrary  to  script- 
ural precepts,  Deut.  xvii,  18  ;  what  falls  under  scri[)tural  re- 
proof, Hos.  viii,  4  ;  and  what  greatly  depreciates  the  valiant 
contendings  of  our  honored  ancestors  for  civil  reformation, 
and  tends  to  invalidate  their  deeds  of  constitutiun  there- 
anent. 

Again  the  presbytery  testifies  against,  and  condemns  that 
principle,  that  the  christian  people  of  God  ought  to  give 
explicit  acknowledgment  of,  implicit  subjection  and  obedi- 
ence to,  whatever  civil  authority  (though  most  wicked  and 
unlawful)  the  Lord  in  his  holy  providence,  may,  for  the  trial 
and  punishment  of  his  church,  permit  a  backsliding  people 
to  constitute  and  set  up,  without  regard  to  the  precept  of 
his  word.  And  they  hereby  reject  whatever  in  opposition 
to  the  covenanted  principles  of  the  Church  of  Scotland,  does 
justly,  and  in  its  own  nature  imply  a  voluntary  and  real 
acknowledgment  of  the  lawfulness  of  the  title  and  authority 
of  an  antiscr.ptural,  anticovenanted,  and  Erastian  govern- 
ment, constituted  ui)on  the  ruins  of  our  scriptural  covenant- 
ed reformation.     Particularly,  they  testify  against  praying 


[200] 

for  success  and  prosperity  to  sucl),  in  their  stated  opposition 
to  the  Lord  and  his  Anointed,  or  in  any  form  implying  a 
homologation  of  their  title  as  lawful,  swearing  oaths  of 
lidelity  and  allegiance  to  such,  accepting  any  office  from 
such,  and  execattng  these  in  their  name  and  authority  under 
them,  military  associations  with  such,  by  a  voluntary  enlist- 
ing under  their  banner,  and  lighting  for  their  su[)port  and 
establishment.  And  that  in  regard  these  are  actions,  as  they 
express  a  proper  and  explicit  owning  of  the  lawfulness  of 
that  authority,  which  they  immediately  respect,  so  they  are 
such  as  cannot  be  obtained  without  the  actual  consent  of  the 
party  performing,  and  must  therefore  imply  a  deliberate  ap- 
probation of  foresaid  iniquitous  authority. 

Further,  they  testify  against  a  direct  and  active,  free  and 
voluntary  paying  of  tribute  and  other  dues,  unto  such,  and 
that  for  conscience  sake,  as  unto  the  ordinance  of  God,  ac- 
cording to  his  precept ;  and  particularly,  when  these  dues 
are  required  as  a  tessera  of  loyalty  to  such  ;  or  when  re- 
quired, as  an  evidence  of  a  person's  active  contributing  to 
the  accomplishment  of  some  wicked  action,  expressly  de- 
clared to  be  the  immediate  end  of  the  imposition.  Thus 
the  case  was  in  the  time  of  persecution,  when  tlie  declared 
end  of  the  additional  cess,  was  the  immediate  suppression 
of  the  pure  ])reaching  of  the  gospel  in  the  fields.  As  also, 
not  only  against  professed  witnesses  for  reformation  princi- 
ples, their  prosecuting  of  their  witnessing  brethren  at  law 
before  the  courts  of  antiscriptural,  unqualilied  judges  ;  but 
generally,  against  all  law  processes,  in  a  way  of  direct  count- 
eracting any  part  of  reformation  attainments,  or  exja-ess  ho- 
mologating the  authority  of  an  unlawful  judge.  And,  in 
fine,  "against  all  voluntary  subjection  for  conscience  sake, 
unto  such  powers  as  are  not  the  ordinance  of  God,  according 
to  his  revealed  preceptive  will,  as  contrary  to  scripture ;  2 
Sam.  ii,  IC  ;  2  Kings  xi,  4,  17;  2  Chron.  xix,  2  ;  Isa.  viii,  12 
and  Ixv,  11 ;  Rom.  xiii,  1  to  8  ;  1  Cor.  vi,  1  to  8,  contrary  to 
the  acts  of  this  church  a])proving,  and  ordinances  of  the 
state,  establishing  the  civil  autho\-ity  upon  its  scriptural 
foundation,  and  thereby  discovering  the  proper  object  of  a 
christian  peo|)le's  voluntary  and  conscientious  subjection  ; 
and  particularly,  to  the  act  of  classes.  AVliile  in  the  mean- 
time, it  must  be  acknowledged,  that  the  state  and  condition 
of  Presbyterian  Covenanters  in  these  lands,  continuing,  as  a 
community,  to  witness  and  contend  for  reformation  of  both 
church  and  state,  that  obtained,  and  was  established,  be- 
tween 1638  and  1650,  cannot  be  regarded  as  that  of  a  free 
people  enjoying  their  ancient  privileges  and  liberties,  but  as 


[201] 

that  of  an  oppressed  people,  brought  under  the  power  of  a 
conqueror,  and  no  better  than  captives  in  their  own  land. 
As  this  was  evidently  the  state  of  the  suffering  remnant 
under  the  persecuting  [)eriod,  when,  by  the  force  of  the 
sword,  they  were  robbed  of  their  former  liberties,  and  re- 
duced to  the  most  deplorable  condition:  so,  however  the 
Revolution  did  alter  some  circumstances  in  the  condition  of 
Covenanters;  yet,  in  regard  it  was  established  upon,  and 
did  homologate  the  overthrow  of  the  reformation,  to  which 
that  people  do  still  adhere,  it  could  make  no  substantial 
€hange  in  their  condition,  from  what  it  formerly  was.  ^  And 
moreover,  as  it  is  necessarily  requisite  to  the  constituting  of 
the  relation  between  magistrate  and  people,  that  there  be  a 
mutual  and  voluntary  consent;  and  as  the  community  of 
Presbyterian  Covenanters  did  never,  at  or  since  the  Revolu- 
tion, give  such  consent ;  but,  on  the  contrary,  have,  in  the 
most  public  manner,  protested  against  the  constitution  and 
installment  of  rulers  in  agreeableness  thereto,  as  being  con- 
trary to  the  word  of  God,  covenanted  constitution,  and 
fundamental  laws  of  the  nations ;  as  is  evident  from  their 
printed  testimonies  and  declarations.  It  follows,  that  their 
state  is  that  of  an  oppressed  people,  in  passive  subjection  to 
a  conquering  power,  whose  duty  is,  to  wait  with  patience 
upon  Israel's  God  for  his  return  to  revive  his  work,  and  re- 
call the  bondage  of  his  Zion.  And  wliile  they  are  to  take 
care  to  do  nothing  that  justly  implies  their  consent  to  the 
continued  opposition  made  unto  the  covenanted  reformation, 
yet  they  ought  to  observe  a  proper  difference  between  such 
actions  and  things  as  are  necessary,  and  in  themselves  just 
and  lawful,  by  a  moral  obligation,  and  those  that  are  not  so. 
As  also,  between  that  which  cannot  be  had,  nor  the  value 
or  equivalent  of  it,  unless  the  person  actually  give  it ;  and 
that  which  may  be  obtained,  whether  he  acutually  contrib- 
ute to  it  or  not.^     Most  applicable  to  this  our  present  con- 

*  It  has  been  complained  b}^  some,  that  the  sense  of  l)Oth  the  members 
of  this  parliciilar  para<;raph  is  obscure,  and  not  so  intelli,iz;ib1e  as  it  should 
be  to  many  readers;  but  this  complaint  seems  rather  to  arise  from  the  want 
of  proper  attention  and  consideration,  than  from  any  other  cause.  As  to 
the  first  branch  of  the  sentence,  Among — '-Such  acticms  and  things  as  are 
necessary,  and  in  themselves  just  and  lawful  by  a  moral  obligation" — may 
be  reckoned  the  payment  of  county  tolls  on  highways  and  l)ridges,  for  the 
benefit  of  an  easy  and  commodious  passage — kceiiing  watch  in  cities  which 
have  no  settled  or  regular  guard,  to  prevent  public  damage  by  fire  or  other- 
wise. In  like  manner  the  payment  of  custom  in  public  markets  or  fairs,  or 
of  town  dues,  all  of  which,  being  intended  for  the  benefit  of  pul)lic  corpor- 
ati<ms,  are  given  or  paid  as  the  price  of  liberty  and  privilege  of  trade  and 
commerce.  And  to  this  may  be  added,  such  necessary  instances  of  self- 
defense  as  a  person  may  be  obliged  to,   when  maliciously  and  villanously 


[202] 

dition,  are  the  words  of  the  Levites,  expressing  the  dis- 
tressed state  of  Israel^  wliich  they  had  brought  themselves 
into  by  their  sins,  as  recorded  by  Xeh.  ix,  36,  37 :  "•  Behold, 
we  are  servants  this  day  ;  and  for  the  land  thou  gavest  unto 
our  fathers,  to  eat  the  fruit  thereof,  and  the  good  thereof, 
behold  we  are  servants  in  it  ;  and  it  yieldeth  much  increase 
unto  the  kings  which  thou  hast  set  over  us,  because  of  our 
sins  ;  also  they  have  dominion  over  our  bodies,  and  over  our 
cattle,  at  their  pleasure,  and  we  are  in  great  distress." 

Likewise  the  presbytery  testify  against  all  ministerial  or 
church  communion  with  such,  who,  though  they  may  occupy 
the  place  of  office-bearers  in  the  church  of  Christ,  yet  are 
destitute  of  those  qualifications  indis})ensably  required  by 
the  church's  Head,  or  enter  not  into  their  office  by  the  door 
he  has  appointed  in  his  word,  own  another  head  than  Christ, 
or  apostatize  and  fall  from  the  truth  and  cause  of  Christ, 
formerly  espoused  and  sworn  to  by  them  in  a  church  capac- 
ity ;  against  all  active  owning  and  countenancing  of  such, 
by  attending  upon  any  of  their  corrupt  ministrations,  or  re- 
ceiving any  ordinances  from  such,  to  whom  the  Lord  has 
denied  his  blessing.  Against  all  voluntary  contracting  with 
prelates,  curates,  or  such  officers  of  human  invention  in  the 
church,  for  paying  tithes  or  other  dues  unto  them,  as  unto 
lawful,  scriptural  parish  ministers.  For  besides  that  there 
is  nothing  due  unto  them,  their  office  having  no  divine 
authority ;  so  there  being  under  the  Kew  Testament  a 
change  of  the  priesthood,  there  is  also  a  change  of  the  law, 
respecting  tithes  ;  according  to  1  Cor.  vi,  17  ;  Rev.  ii,  20,  &c. 

attacked  in  his  character  or  goods,  by  persons  perhaps  designedly  taking 
advantage  of  his  christian  temper,  or  profession.  Or  when  j)erliaps  a  per- 
son may  be  maliciously  charged  with,  and  prosecuted  for  crimes  not  onlj^ 
peculiarl}'  dishonorable  to  religion,  but  even  capital,  as  has  been  the  case 
with  some  individuals.  In  all  such  cases,  self-defense  at  law^  becomes 
necessary  before  the  ordinary  courts  and  judges  of  any  nation,  or  place  of 
the  world  whatever,  when  such  defenses  are  admitted  without  the  formal 
and  explicit  acknowledgment  of  the  lawfulness  of  unjust  or  usurped 
authority  (when  such  hai)pens  to  be  in  place,  as  in  the  instance  of  Paul's 
appeal  to  Caesar,  Acts  xxv),  or  acting  any  otherwise  contrary  to  justice 
and  charity. 

And  with  regard  to  theother  branch  of  the  sentence,  where  it  is  observed 
— "  That  a  diflereuce  ought  to  be  made  between  those  things  that  cannot 
be  had,  nor  yet  the  value  and  equivalent  of  them,  unless  the  person  actu 
ally  give  it,"  &c.  This  is  sulhciently  exi)lained  in  a  paragrajih,  page  200, 
near  the  foot.  Prayers  for  God's  blessing  on  any  government — enlisting 
and  bearing  arms  in  their  service — accepting  oflices  and  i)laces  of  power 
from  them — swearing  oaths  of  fidelity  to  tiiem,  &.c. — are  such  things  as 
can  by  no  means  be  got,  nor  yet  the  equivalent  of  them,  unless  the  part}' 
actually  consents  and  grants  them.  These,  therefore,  and  such  like,  are 
the  only  instances  of  action  which,  the  )jresl)ytery  judge,  do,  in  their  own 
nature,  contain  and  ex]>ress  a  i)roper  and  exi)licil  acknowledgment  of  the 
lawfulness  of  that  authority  which  they  immediately  respect. 


[203] 

By  all  which  it  appears,  from  what  is  above  asserted  and 
declared  concerniiio^  these  two  divine  distinct  ordinances,  the 
ministry  and  magistracy,  that  the  principles  maintained 
thereanent  by  the  presbytery,  are  nothing  else  than  an  en- 
deavor, as  a  judicatory  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  constituted 
in  his  name,  to  hold  fast  the  church  oi  Scotland'' s  testimony^ 
agreeable  to  the  scriptures  of  truth,  her  confession  and 
covenants,  fundamental  acts  and  constitutions  both  of  church 
and  state;  and  this,  according  to  the  command  of  the 
church's  sole  King  and  Head  ;  Rev.  ii,  25,  and  iii,  11.  And 
what  is  testified  against,  is,  in  the  nature  of  it,  an  homolo- 
gation of  the  church's  faithful  opposition  to  backsliders,  in 
their  course  of  defection,  from  the  national  attainments  in 
religion  and  reformation,  resisting  even  unto  blood,  striving 
against  sin. 

XVIII.  Of  Oaths  and  Vows.— The  presbytery  further 
assert  and  declare,  that  oaths  and  vows  are  a  part  of  religious 
worship,  warranted  in  the  word  of  God,  and  under  the  Xew 
Testament  dispensation,  and  may  be  lawfully  taken  and  en- 
tered into  by  the  Lord's  people.  That  such  oaths  and  vows 
only  are  warrantable,  as  are  lawful  both  for  the  matter 
and  the  manner  of  them ;  and  those  that  are  so,  w^hen  once 
engaged  in,  must  not  be  violated  on  any  consideration,  and 
that,  because  of  the  authority  of  the  awful  name  of  God 
interposed  in  them.  And  further,  they  declare,  that  the 
right  of  administering  oaths  is  competent  only  to  those 
vested  with  such  authority  as  is  agreeable  to  the  vyord  of 
truth.  As  also,  that  it  is  the  incunibent  duty  of  christians, 
by  solemn  oath  to  bind  themselves  to  maintain  and  defend 
the  persons  of  righteous  rulers,  in  the  lawful  exercise  of  their 
authority  ;  and  to  such  only,  it  is  lawful  to  swear  oaths  of 
allegiance  and  fidelity.  And  hereby,  they  disapprove  the 
principle  of  refusing  allegiance  to  lawful  authority.  At  the 
same  time,  the  presbytery  testify  against,  as  above,  all  the 
oaths  of  allegiance  in  being,  to  an  Erastian  prelatical  gov- 
ernment. And  further,  they  reject  and  detest  that  sinful,, 
idolatrous  and  superstitious  form  of  swearing,  in  laj'ing  the 
hand  upon,  and  kissing  the  gospels,  practiced  by  the  pre- 
latical churches  of  England  and  Ireland^  and  even  intro- 
duced into  Scotland,  as  a  gross  profanation  of  that  holy  ord- 
inance, and  contrary  to  the  scripture  examples  thereof. 
Hereby  they  also  testify  against  all  sinful  swearing,  whereby 
the  name  of  God,  his  titles,  perfections,  or  graces  of  his  Holy 
Spirit,  are  profaned  in  ordinary  discourse.  As  also,  the  un- 
necessary oaths  of  customhouse,  trade,  &c.,  as  a  reiterated 
and  fearful  profanation  of  the  name  of  God.     And  more- 


[204] 

over,  they  testify  against,  and  condemn  that  ungodly  and 
superstitious  oath,  practiced  hy  that  unhallowed  cluh,  called 
Free  Masons:  according  to  ]-)eut.  x,  20;  Exod.  xx,  7;  Xeh. 
xiii,  21  ;  Ezra  x,  5  ;  Deut.  vi,  13  ;  Matth.  iv,  35,  36;  Ezek. 
xvii,  16,  17,  18,  19  ;  Rev.  x,  5,  6  ;  Jer.  iv,  2,  and  v,  2  ;  Con- 
fess, chap.  22. 

Again,  tliey  testify  and  declare,  that  the  work  of  solemn 
covenanting  with  a  God  in  Christ,  is  a  duty  warranted  in 
the  script ui-es  of  the  Old  and  New  Testament,  and  by  the 
exami)les  of  the  godly,  agreeable  thereto;  and  that  not  only 
to  individuals  in  particular,  but  to  churches  and  nations  in 
general.  Which  covenants  once  entered  into,  and  being  for 
the  niatter  of  them  lawful,  are  most  sacred,  and  therefore 
inviolably  binding;  and  what  cannot  be  broken  or  trans- 
gressed, without  manifest  guilt,  and  incurring  the  dreadful 
resentment  of  a  holy  and  jealous  God,  Avho  has  severely 
threatened  to  punish  covenant-breakers.  And  hence  they 
assert,  that  the  National  Covenant  of  Scotland,  ancj  the 
Solemn  League  and  Covenant  entered  into  by  the  three 
nations,  for  reformation  and  defense  of  religion,  and  for  the 
maintenance  and  preservation  of  the  truths  and  ordinances 
of  God  in  purity,  and  sworn  by  our  honored  ancestors,  not 
only  for  themselves,  but  including  also  their  posterity^  are  of 
divine  authority,  as  having  their  foundation  upon  the  word 
of  God  ;  therefore  moral,  and  so  perpetually  binding  upon 
the  nations,  and  every  individual  of  them,  to  the  latest 
posterity.  Wherefore,  the  presbytery  testify  against  the 
princii)le  of  refusing  tlie  lawfulness  of  national  coVenanting, 
particularly,  under  the  New  Testament  dispensation,  and  all 
principles  and  practices  that  strike  against  the  moral  obliga- 
tion of  these  covenants  ;  see  Deut.  vi,  13  ;  Isa.  ix,  18,  and  xliv, 
5 ;  Jer.  1,  5  ;  Deut.  xxix,  12  to  16,  24,  25  ;  Lev.  xxvi,  25,  26  ; 
Josh,  ix,  14,  15,  18,  19;  2  Sam.  xxi,  1  ;  Ezek.  xvi,  59,  and 
xvii,  15, 16,  18,  19  ;  Dos.  x,  4  ;  Gal  iii,  15  ;  2  Cor.  viii,  5. 
See  also  acts  and  ordinances  both  of  church  and  state  in 
times  of  reformation,  respecting  the  taking,  and  binding 
obligation,  of  the  covenants. 

Again,  the  presbytery  hereby  testify  and  declare  their 
approbation  of,  and  adherence  unto,  all  the  ditfe rent  steps  of 
reformation,  that  ever,  in  any  period,  were  attained  unto  in 
this  church  and  laud  :  particularly,  besides  what  has  been 
mentioned  above,  they  declare  their  adherence  to  the  West- 
minster Confession  of  Faith,  as  it  was  ai)proven  by  act  of  the 
General  Assend)ly  of  the  Church  of  Scotland,  anno  1647  ; 
Catechisms,  larger  and  shorter ;  Form  of  church  government, 
Directory  for  worship,  and  Books  of  Disci[>line,  as  agreea- 
ble to,  and  extracted  from  the  sacred  oracles. 


[205] 

And  with  respect ^to  the  fourth  article  of  the  23d  chapter 
of  our  Confession,  the  presbytery  hereby  declare,  that  they 
reject  that  corru[)t  sense  and  gloss  which  has  been  imposed 
upon  it,  whether  by  0|)en  enemies,  or  false  friends  to  our 
covenanted  reformation  in  former  or  latter  times,  viz: 
That  a  reformed  christian  people,  having  generally  received, 
and  publicly  professing  the  true  religion ;  and  more  es- 
specially,  having  expressly  and  solemnly  bound  themselves 
by  public  national  vows  to  the  Most  High,  for  the  preserva- 
tion of  it,  may  warrantably  set  over  them  an  infidel,  or  one 
of  a  religion  differing  from  the  true  religion,  and  thereupon 
acknowledge  and  submit  themselves  unto  him,  as  their  law-, 
ful  civil  ruler  for  conscience  sake.  And  moreover,  they  de- 
clare that  they  understand  said  article,  as  principally  re- 
lating to  the  condition  of  a  people  emerging  out  of  the 
darkness  and  superstition  of  Paganism  or  Poj)ery,  &c.,  before 
that  religion  has  obtained  the  sanction  of  civil  authority  ; 
when,  although  the  major  part  or  bulk  of  a  people  should 
embrace  the  true  religion,  yet  that  does  not  dissolve  or  loose 
the  relation  subsisting  between  them  and  their  civil  rulers, 
prior  to  their  conversion,  agreeble  to,  and  founded  upon  the 
just  and  reasonable  laws  of  the  realm.  In  this  case  only,  it 
is  granted,  that  an  infidel,  or  one  of  a  different  religion, 
may  have  authority  just  and  legal  over  a  people  partly  con- 
verted to  the  knowledge  and  gosj)el  of  Christ.  Thus  it  was 
with  the  primitive  christians,  and  thus  it  was  particularly 
with  our  ancestors  in  Scotland^  at  the  beginning  of  the  refor- 
mation ;  and  this  perfectly  well  agrees  to  the  apostolic  pre- 
cept and  determination  in  a  case  similar  to  the  above ;  1 
Cor.  vii,  12,  13  and  39,  and  2  Cor.  vi,  14. 

As  also,  they  further  declare  their  approbation  of,  and 
adherence  to  all  the  faithful  testimonies,  declarations  and 
protestations,  emitted  by  the  witnesses  for  the  work  of 
reformation,  whether  before  or  under  the  late  times  of 
tyranny  and  persecution,  in  prisons,  scaffolds,  or  in  the 
fields,  by  land  or  sea  ;  or  by  such,  as  since  that  time  have 
succeeded  them  in  the  self  same  testimony,  as  they  are 
founded  upon,  and  agreeable  to  the  word  of  truth,  and  as  a 
just  and  })ro[)er  vindication  of  foresaid  covenanted  cause. 
And  particularly  with  the  above  proviso  and  limitation, 
they  declare  their  adherence  to  the  liiitherglen^  Scwquhar  and 
Lanerk  declarations,  avnis  1679,  1680,  1682 ;  as  also  to  the 
declarations  published  at  Sanquhar,  1683,  1684,  1692,  and 
1695,  1703,  1707  ;  to  the  informatory  vindication,  and  cloud  of 
witnesses;  to  the  covenants  national  and  solemn  league,  sworn  at 
Auchensaugh,  near  Douglas,  in  the  year  1712,  at  Crawfard- 


[206] 

John  1745  ;  with  the  additional  acknowledgments  of  sins, 
and  engao;ement8  to  duties  at  these  times  ;  to  the  declara- 
tions pubfislied  at  Sanquhar^  1718,  and  at  Moniherrick^  1740, 
1741.  And  in  like  manner,  they  testify  their  adherence  to 
the  Ad  formerly  emitted  by  this  presbytery,  in  condemna- 
tion of  the  universal  scheme.  And  they  do  hereby  testify 
against,  and  disapprove  all  partiality  and  unfaithfulness, 
whether  in  respect  of  right  or  left  hand  extremes,  in  any  tes- 
timonies, published  in  a  way  of  professed  adherence  to  re- 
formation principles ;  particularly,  they  reject  the  testimony 
published  by  those  designated  the  Associate  Presbytery^  as  no 
adequate  testimony  for  truth,  because  of  the  partiality  and 
unfaithfulness,  both  to  God  and  the  generation,  discovered 
therein ;  being,  instead  of  a  faithful  vindication,  no  better 
than  a  burial  of  some  of  the  most  important  attainments  in 
reformation  of  this  church  and  land.  And  they  likewise 
reject,  detest  and  abhor  that  spurious  brat,  stuffed  with  gross 
error,  blasphemy  and  nonsense,  most  falsely  and  unjustly 
designated,  "A  testimony  for  the  w^ord  of  Christ's  patience," 
by  tliat  sacrilegious  usurper  of  the  ministry,  William  Dunnet, 
who,  being  once  plunged  into  the  depths  of  enthusiasm,  such 
is  his  madness,  that  under  pretense  of  an  immediate  mission 
from  heaven,  he  not  only  daringly  usurps  the  whole  of  the 
ministerial  function,  but  also  wickedly  claims  an  Erastian 
exercise  of  the  office  of  the  civil  magistrate,  in  a  stupid  un- 
accountable declaration  of  war,  offensive  and  defensive, 
against  all  mankind,  himself,  and  his  blind-folded  con- 
federates only  excepted  ;  having  pro])ably  had  these  anti- 
scriptural  notions  instilled  into  him  b}^  the  industry  of  some 
unstable  heads,  who,  after  they  had  made  a  professed  subjec- 
tion to  this  presbytery,  in  the  Lord,  did,  with  some  others 
of  the  same  stamp,  in  a  most  unwarrantable  and  schismatical 
manner,  break  off'  from  their  communion,  without  so  much  as 
discovering  any  shadow  of  reason,  in  justification  of  their 
rash,  ungrounded  and  precipitate  separation. 

Upon  the  whole,  the  presbytery,  protesting  that  they  have 
been  influenced  to  this  necessary  w^ork  of  displaying  a  ju- 
dicial banner  for  the  covenanted  cause  and  interest  of  our 
exalted  Redeemer,  purely  out  of  a  regard  to  the  glory  of 
God,  a  desire  that  Christ's  kingdom  may  be  advanced,  and 
his  buried  truths  revived,  as  also  a  concern  for  the  welfare 
and  hajipiness  of  the  present  and  succeeding  generatioi\s,  do 
earnestly,  in  the  bowels  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  beseech 
and  obtest  all  and  every  one,  into  whose  hands  this  testi- 
mony may  come,  that,  without  considering  the  insignificancy 
of  the  instruments,  and    laying   aside   prejudice  and  carnal 


[  207  ] 

selfish  considerations,  they  receive  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus, 
not  only  in  the  notion,  hut  in  the  love  and  power  of  it ;  that 
they  take  with  the  many  just  and  highly-aggravated  grounds 
of  the  Lord's  controversy,  and   causes  of  his  wrath  against 
us,  not  only  on  account  of  private  and  personal  wickedness 
come  to  a  very  great  height,  hut  particularly  on    account   of 
the  general  opposition  to  the  public  concerns  of  his  glory,  in 
\vhat  respects  the  doctrine,  worship,  government  and  disci- 
pline of  his  house.     Alas  !  our  public  abominations  are  both 
obstinately  persisted  in   and  publicly  justified.     That    they 
lay  to    heart  the   great   and    terrible  wickedness  of  the  day 
and   generation,   with    deep   humiliation   before   the  Lord, 
while  he    waits   to    be   gracious,  and  is  calling  all  ranks  to 
humble   themselves,  and  saying,  "  Rend  your  heart  and  not 
\^our  garments,  and  turn  unto  the  Lord  your  God,  for  he  is 
gracious   and   merciful ;"  Joel    ii,  13.     That,  in  the  way  of 
flying  under  the   covert   of  the   atoning  blood  of  the  Son  ot 
God,'by  faith   in  his   name,  for   the   remission   of  sins,  and 
endeavoring  after  personal  reformation,  as  to  all  the  impiety 
and  irreligion,  all  the  detestable  inditferency,  lukewarmness 
and  hypocrisy,  in   the   matters   of  God,  which    universally 
prevail ;  they  also  study  and  set   about   public  reformation, 
every  one  in  their  several  stations,  according  to  our  solemn 
national  engagements,  concurring  to  restore  the  Lord's  ruined 
and  buried  work,   and   rebuild    his   house,  which  is  now 
lying  as  a  desolate  heap,  covered  over  with  the  rubbish  of 
manifold   errors,  corruptions  and  human  inventions.     If  we 
still  hold  fast  our  abominations,  and  will  not,  by  repentance 
and  reformation,  return  and  give  glory  to  the  Lord  our  God 
before  he  cause  darkness,  then,  when  he  returns  for  the  salva- 
tion of  Zion,  "  lie  will  come  treading  down  the  people  in 
his  anger,  and  making  them  drunk  in  his  fury,  and  bringing 
down  their  strength  to  the  earth  ;"  Isa.  Ixiii,  6.  "But  is  there 
no  hope  in  Israel  concerning  this  thing  ?     Is  there  no  balm 
in  Gilead  F     Is  there  pot  a  physician  there  ?"     Is  there  not 
virtue  in  Christ's  blood   for  the  most  desperate  cases,  that 
churches,  as  well  as  particular  persons,  can  be  in?     Is  there 
not  ground  to  hope,  that  the  Lord  will  not  altogether  forsake 
these   sinful   lands,    which  were  given  to  him  of  old  for  an 
inheritance,  and  wherein  he  has  so  long  maintained  his  pos- 
session, but   that  he  will  yet  build  up  our  Zion, ^uc\  appear 
in  his  glory  therein,  will  plead  his  own  cause,  revive  his  own 
work,  a  covenanted  work  of  reformation,  and  remove  all  the 
contempt  and  ignominy  which  it  presently  lies  under?    Sure 
the   continuance  of  his   gracious   calls   and    invitations   to 
return  to  him,  gives  ground   to  hope,  that  our  "  Israel  hath 


[208] 

not  been  forsaken,  nor  Jadah  of  his  God,  of  the  Lord  of 
Hosts,  though  their  land  was  filled  with  sin  against  the  holy 
One  of  Israel;''  Jer.  li,  5.  And  though,  while  so  much  of 
error,  prejudice  and  carnal  interest,  lie  as  impassable  moun- 
tains in  the  way,  there  is  little  ap[)earance  of  the  nations 
taking  this  course ;  yet  the  Lord  seems  still  to  bes[)eak  us  in 
that  endearing  language,  Jer.  iii,  12,  "  Go  and  proclaim  these 
words  towards  the  no"rth,  and  say,  Heturn  thou  backsliding 
Israel^  saith  the  Lord,  and  I  will  not  cause  mine  anger  to 
fall  upon  you ;  for  I  am  merciful,  saith  the  Lord,  and  I  will 
not  keep  anger  forever."  Though  we  have  naticnially  torn 
our  marriage  contract  with  heaven,  and  taken  awav  our 
names,  yet  the  Lord  has  not.  Turn^  0  backsliding  children., 
saith  the  Lord.,  for  I  am  married  unto  you.  Let  all,  then, 
repent^  and  turn  themselves  from  all  their  transgressions,  so  ini- 
quity shall  not  he  their  ruin;  but  if  not,  then  let  all  the 
imi)enitent  despisers  of  the  repeated  calls  of  mercy  know, 
that  abused  patience  will  at  length  turn  into  fury,  and  the 
Lord  Jehovah,  who  has  already  furbished  his  sword,  and 
prepared  the  instruments  of  death,  will  speedily  give  that 
dreadful  commission  to  the  executioners  of  his  wrath  :  ''  Put 
ye  in  the  sickle,  for  the  harvest  is  ripe  ;  come,  get  you  down, 
for  the  press  is  full,  the  fats  overflow,  for  their  wickedness  is 
great :"  Joel  iii,  13.  ^'  But  because  God  will  do  this  to  Israel, 
let  us  prepare  to  meet  our  God."  Further,  the  presbytery 
invite  and  entreat  all  who  tender  the  glory  of  God,  the 
removal  of  the  causes  of  his  wrath  and  indignation,  and  who 
desire  the  continuance  of  his  tabernacle  and  gracious  pres- 
ence among  us,  to  come  and  join  in  a  harmonious,  zealous 
and  faithful  testimony  for  the  precious  truths  and  interest  of 
Zion's  glorious  King,  and  against  every  course  that  has  a 
tendency  to  heighten,  and  at  last  to  lay  on  the  copestone  of  our 
defections.  Consider  it  is  the  Lord's  call  and  command  to 
every  one,  even  in  their  most  private  station.  Contend  earnestly 
for  the  faith  once  delivered  to  the  saints:  It  is  the  burden  he, 
at  this  day,  lays  on  his  church  and  people:  Hold  fast  tvhat 
thou  hast  till  I  come.,  that  no  man  take  thy  crown;  hold  fast  by 
our  former  attainments  in  reformation.  And  finally,  the- 
presbytery  exhort  all  with  whom  they  are  more  particularly 
connected,  To  stand  fast  in  one  spirit.,  with  one  mind.,  striving 
together  for  the  faith  of  the  gospel,  and  in  nothing  terrified  by  your 
adversaries.  Let  the  fiame  of  fervent  and  true  love  to  God,, 
his  truths,  and  to  one  another,  prevent  and  extinguish  the 
wild  fire  of  unnecessary  and  hurtful  mutual  animosities; 
and  endeavoring  to  keep  the  unity  of  the  spirit  in  the  bond  of 
peace,  study  oneness  in  promoting  the  Lord's  opposed  work^ 


[209] 

and  in  walking  in  the  good  old  way,  without  turning  aside 
to  the  right  hand  or  to  the  left,  hecause  of  the  lion  that  is 
therein,  and  without  laying  other  foundations  than  what 
were  laid.  Let  none  of  Christ's  true  and  faithful  witnesses 
suffer  their  hearts  to  sink  into  despondency  ;  the  cause  is  the 
Lord's,  and  assuredly  he  will  thoroughly  plead  that  cause 
which  is  his  own.  It  will  outlive  all  its  enemies,  and  yet 
have  a  glorious  resurrection  ;  and  this  will  be  the  crown  and 
comfort  of  all  such  as  continue,  amidst  all  trials  and  suffer- 
ings, contending  for  him,  in  the  blessed  expectation  of  the 
conqueror's  everlasting  reward.  Therefore,  lift  up  the  hands 
that  hang  down,  and  strengthen  the  feeble  knees;  greater  afflic- 
tions have  been  accomplished  in  those  that  are  gone  before, 
and  are  now  inheriting  the  promises,  than  any  wherewith 
the  Lord  is  presently  trying  his  church.  And  as  the  God  of 
all  grace,  after  they  had  suffered  awhile,  made  them  perfect, 
and  put  them  in  possession  of  that  eternal  glory  to  which 
they  were  called  by  Jesus  Christ,  so  shall  he  establish, 
strengthen  and  keep  his  people  still  from  falling,  and,  after 
all  their  sorrows  and  sufferings,  present  them  faultless  before 
the  presence  of  his  glory,  with  exceeding  joy.  "  Return,  we 
beseech  thee,  0  God  of  Ilosts;  look  down  from  heaven,  and 
behold  and  visit  this  vine;  and  the  vineyard  which  thy 
right  hand  hath  planted,  and  the  branch  that  thou  madest 
strong  for  thyself,  it  is  burnt  with  lire,  it  is  cut  down,  they 
perish  at  the  rebuke  of  thy  countenance.  Let  thy  hand  be 
upon  th«  man  of  thy  right  hand,  upon  the  Son  of  man  whom 
thou  madest  strong  for  thyself,  so  will  not  we  go  back  from 
thee ;  quicken  us,  and  we  will  call  upon  thy  name  ;  turn  us 
again,  0  Lord  of  Hosts,  cause  thy  face  to  shine,  and  we  shall 
be  saved  :  Let  God  arise,  let  Zion's  immortal  and  omnipo- 
tent King  Jesus  reign,  and  let  all  his  enemies  be  scattered ; 
but  let  them  that  love  him  be  as  the  sun,  when  he  goeth 
forth  in  his  might." 

Extracted  by  JO.  TIIORBURl!^,  Pr.  Clk. 


[210] 


ADDENDA. 

In  addition  to  what  is  said  (in  pages  preceding,  respecting 
the  establishment  of  Popery  in  Canada),  the  presbytery  deeply 
lament,  that,  in  the  present  edition  of  their  Testimony,  they 
are  furnished  with  fresh  matter  to  animadvert  upon  the  con- 
tinued tendency  of  the  British  administration  in  favor  of  the 
religion  of  Antichrist. 

Not  long  after  the  civil  establishment  of  Popery  in  Can- 
ada, new  privileges,  civil  and  religious,  were  bestowed  upon 
the  professors  of  that  religion  at  home,  both  in  England  and 
Ireland,  by  which  Catholics  have  received  toleration,  under 
the  sanction  of  law,  openly  to  profess  and  practice  their 
idolatry,  to  open  seminaries  of  learning,  for  the  public  in- 
struction of  youth  in  their  own  religion,  and  to  purchase 
and  transfer  estates  to  their  Popish  relations,  in  direct  oppo- 
sition to  the  established  laws  of  the  land,  framed  by  our 
Protestant  ancestors,  under  the  sense  of  felt  necessity, 
whereby  Catholics  were  laid  under  disabilities,  as  to  the  en- 
joyment of  those  privileges,  which  they  saw  to  be  inconsist- 
ent with  the  peace  of  the  state  and  safety  of  the  Protestant 
religion  on  account  of  the  barbarous  massacres  committed 
by  Catholics  upon  Protestants,  and  the  numerous  hostile 
attempts  made  to  overturn,  by  violence,  the  Protestant  re- 
ligion witliin  these  lands,  as  proceeding  from  the  sanguinary 
spirit  of  Popery.  The  modern  plea  set  up  in  favor  of  those 
privileges  being  conferred  upon  Popery,  that  the  Catholics 
of  this  day  have  candidly  renounced  the  whole  of  their  old 
principles  which  they  held,  as  inimical  to  a  Protestant 
country,  never  can  be  adniitted,  while  they  still  retain  the 
most  dangerous  of  all  their  principles,  viz  :  implicit  faith  in 
the  doctrines  of  supreme  councils,  and  the  dispensing  author- 
ity of  the  Pope.  Against  this  sinful  indulgence  granted  to 
Popery,  the  presbytery  testified  at  the  time,  in  a  separate 
piece,  entitled,  A  Testimony  and  Warning  against  the  Blas- 
phemies and  Idolatries  of  Popery,  &c.,  to  which  they  still 
refer  the  reader.  An  attempt  also  was  made  to  extend  a 
similar  indulgence  to  Catholics  in  Scotland,  but  which  was 
happily  frustrated  through  the  zealous  exertions  of  the  peo- 
ple, who,  })leading  the  established  laws  of  the  land,  boldl}^ 
reclaimed  against  the  measure,  which  produced  the  desired 
eifect  of  compelling  the  government  to  desist.  But  alas ! 
no  sooner  was  the  popular  zeal  cooled,  than  government 
30wed  tares  by  enlarging  the  privileges  of  Catholics  with 


[211] 

regard  to  civil  property.  The  deplorable  fact  now  is,  that 
Popery,  basking  in  the  sunshine  of  legislative  power,  ad- 
vanced to  the  legal  possession  of  new  privileges,  and  shielded 
by  a  formal  toleration  in  the  neighboring  kingdoms,  may  be 
considered  as  enjoying  the  actual  protection  of  government 
in  Scotland.  Iii  Ireland,  privileges  of  a  still  more  exalted 
nature  are  bestowed  upon  Popery,  while  the  Catholic  is  so 
far  enfranchised,  that,  in  conjunction  with  the  Protestant, 
he  may  give  his  voice  for  members  to  serve  in  the  legisla- 
ture of  his  country.  What  greatly  adds  to  the  evil  is,  the 
lamentable  alteration  of  public  opinion,  so  lately  displayed 
against  the  measures  of  government  in  former^  indulgences 
bestowed  upon  the  Catholic  interest ;  but  which  has  now 
changed  into  an  entire  approbation  thereof,  both  by  the 
great  body  of  the  people  and  the  minority  in  the  two  houses 
of  Parliament ;  and  the  only  complaint  against  government 
on  that  score  is,  that,  stopping  short  of  meeting  just  claims 
of  Catholics,  they  have  not  ingrafted  them  into  all  the  priv- 
ileges ot*  British  subjects,  and  forever  done  away  the  odious 
distinction  between  Protestant  and  Catholic,  as  to  privilege. 
When  we  open  our  eyes  to  the  measures  of  the  present 
day,  we  behold  still  more  abominations.  The  government  so 
faf  from  remembering  whence  they  are  fallen,  repenting  and 
doing  their  first  works,  have  started  again  in  the  cause  of 
Antichrist,  by  leaguing  themselves  in  a  military  expedition 
with  a  group  of  Popish  despots  on  the  continent,  who  have 
long  given  their  power  to  the  beast ;  of  this  expedition  one 
object  evidently  appears  to  be  the  re-establishment  and  sup- 
port of  Popery  in  France,  where  under  the  administration  of 
the  omnipotent,  and  avenging  holy  providence  of  God,  in 
the  pouring  out  of  the  vials  of  his  wrath  upon  the  beast,  that 
false  religion  has  received  a  sore  and  bleeding  wound,  and 
where  the  people,  long  crushed  under  the  tyranny  ot*  a  des- 
potic throne,  and  usurpation  of  an  imposing  priesthood,  have 
risen  to  extricate  themselves  from  the  accumulated  oppress- 
ion, and  by  their  astonishing  efforts  have  shaken  off  the 
Papal  yoke,  by  renouncing  their  accustomed  allegiance^  to 
the  head  of  the  Antichristian  states  at  Rome,  have  with- 
drawn their  wonted  supplies  from  his  treasures,  and  com- 
pletely overthrown  the  temporal  power  of  his  religion  in 
their  own  country,  which  had  for  many  ages  kept  them  in 
fetters.  If  any  doubt  should  be  entertained  with  regard  to 
the  support  afforded  to  the  sinking  cause  of  Popery  in 
France  by  this  expedition,  the  declaration  published  by  the 
brother  of  the  late  King  of  France,  stiling  himself  Louis 
XYIII,  at  the  head  of  the  emigrants  in  arms,  exhibits  the 


[212] 

fact  in  the  clearest  point  of  view,  while  he  plainly  and  un- 
equivocally says,  in  that  declaration,  that  their  designs  are 
the  erection  of  the  throne  and  altar,  by  which  are  meant  the 
civil  government  and  the  Catholic  religion,  as  they  existed 
in  France  prior  to  the  revolution.     Britain,  not  satistied  with 
sending  forth  numerous  hosts  to  the  lield  abroad  and  lavish- 
ing her  treasures  to  sup})ly  the  exhausted  finances  of  the 
coalesced  powers,  has  opened  her  arms  at  home  to  receive 
Hying  emigrants,  caressed  by  her,  as  if  they  had  been  sutfer- 
ers  in  the  cause  of  genuine  Christianity.     By  the  voice  of 
Episcopal  dignitaries  the  Popish  clergy  have  been  extolled, 
as  men  of  the  most  eminent  piety,  while  places  have  been 
furnished  by  government,   to  accommodate  them    in  their 
mass  service ;  and  a  branch  of  the  bloody  house  of  Bourbon, 
whom  divine  vengeance  has  reduced  to  the  abject  state  of  a 
w^andering  exile,  is  admitted  among  us,  with  all  marks  of 
honor,  and,  with   his  train,  provided  for,  as  if  he  were  a 
zealous  supporter  of  the  Protestant  cause,  seeking  an  asylum 
from  the  rage  of  Papal  persecution  in  this    reformed  land. 
It  cannot  escape  the  notice  of  the  attentive  observer,  how 
closely  the  crown  of  Britain  has  become  allied  to  this  false 
religion,  in   consequence  of  the  conquest  of  the  island  of 
Corsica,  and  the  accession  of  the  crown  of  that  island  to  the 
crown  of  Britain.     According  to  the  new   constitution   of 
Corsica,  the  King  of  Great  i3ritain,  as  represented  by  his 
viceroy,  makes  an  essential  branch  of  the  parliament,  all  the 
acts  whereof  must  be  assented  to  by  him,  in  order  to  give 
them  the  force  of  law.     Now,  it  is  to  be  remarked,  that  in 
this  constitution  Popery  is  expressly  declared  to  be  the  only 
established  religion  in  the  island ;  it  is  therefore  agreed  to 
be  divided  into  districts,  to   be  filled  up  with   ministers  of 
the  Catholic  religion,  endowed  with  legal  maintenance.     So 
the  king  of  Britain,  as  wearing  the  Corsican  crown,  engages 
to  unite  this  constitutional  establishment  of  tiie  Catholic  re- 
ligion, the  king  of  Great  Britain,  as  the  king  of  Corsica,  gives 
his  firm  assent.     Moveover,  to  provide  for  the  more  extensive 
propagation  of  Popery  in  Corsica,  the  legislature  stipulate  to 
consult  with  the  8ee  of  Rome ;  here,  also,  he  engages  to  join  the 
wisdom  of  his  counsels  to  those  of  the  Pope,  for  the  express 
purpose  of  giving  a  wider  spread  to  popery.     If  the  prophet 
Jehu  accused  Jehoshaphat,  though  a  good  prince,  when  he 
was  returning  from  a  military  exhibition  with  Ahab,  king 
of  Israel,  in  such  cutting  language;  2  Chron.  xix,  2,  Shouldbt 
thou  help  the  ungodly^  and  love  them  that  hate  the  Lord,  f  there- 
fore is  wrath  upon  thee  from  the  Lord:  in  what  words  shall 
we  pronounce  upon  this  conduct  of  Britain,  in  mixing  with 


[218] 

her  politics  and  wars,  active  measures  to  raise  ascain  the 
falling  Dagon  of  popery  from  the  threshhold,  and  to  help 
forward  the  interests  of  a  religion  which  the  Lord  has 
solemnly  declared  he  will  destroy  with  the  judgments  of 
his  hand  and  the  brightness  of  his  coming.  Besides  the 
iniquity  of  the  thing  itself,  in  giving  direct  aid  to  this 
religion,  our  guilt  derives  great  aggravations  from  a  view  of 
the  present  dispensations  of  Providence  in  visibly  sending 
down  terrible  judgments  (no  matter  through  what  rough 
hands)  upon  that  antichristian  power,  that  has  long  sat  upon 
many  waters ;  and  the  loud  voice  of  Jehovah  is  uttering,  on 
the  awful  crisis  of  its  downfall,  to  all  the  fearers  of  his  name 
to  escape  a  share  in  its  judgments,  by  flying  away  from  all 
communion  Avith  its  evils ;  liev.  xviii,  4,  Come  out  of  her.,  my 
'people^  thai  ye  he  not  partakers  of  her  sins,  and  that  ye  receive  not 
of  her  'plagues.  But,  blind  to  his  avenging  hand,  and  deaf  to 
this  summons,  Great  Britain,  once  without,  is  now  again 
returning  into  a  most  unlawful  communion  to  support  this 
adjudged  power,  by  which  she  constitutes  herself  a  partner 
in  its  s.ns,  and  thereby  exposes  herself  to  a  portion  of  its 
plagues.  In  vain  will  it  be  urged  as  a  plea  of  justification, 
that  the  authors  of  the  revolution  in  France,  having  over- 
turned the  constitution  of  their  own  country,  and  spread 
desolation  through  the  wide  extent  of  it,  menaced  other 
nations,  and  us  also ;  and  that,  therefore,  Britain,  acting  on 
the  first  principle  of  nature's  law,  self-preservation,  joined 
the  allied  powers  for  her  own  defense.  Though  the  presby- 
tery are  by  no  means  to  be  understood  as  giving  their  sutfrage 
for  the  lawfulness  and  justice  of  the  war  on  our  side;  yet, 
for  the  sake  of  argument,  allowing  the  plea — what  then  ? 
Will  this  sanctify  the  measures  adopted  by  Britain,  in  recover- 
ing, supporting  and  propagating  the  cause  of  popery,  that 
the  conquest  of  the  enemy,  and  her  own  safety  are  the  ends 
ultimately  to  be  gained  by  them?  The  Christiaii  maxim, 
that  evil  is  not  to  be  done  that  good  may  come,  binds  as 
strongly  nations  as  individuals.  Popery  is  not  a  local  evil ; 
it  is  still  the  mystery  of  iniquity,  as  much  in  France,  and  in 
Corsica,  as  it  is  in  Great  Britain  ;  it  is  everywhere  the  forbid- 
den fruit,  not  to  be  touched.  If  the  security  of  a  Protestant 
country  is  to  be  sought  for,  in  dependence  upon,  or  in  any 
state  of  connection  with  the  co-existence  and  maintenance 
of  antichrist,  we  have  indeed  a  feeble  pillar  to  rest  upon;  for, 
as  sure  as  God  himself  has  spoken  it,  the  papal  kingdoms  are 
the  Babylon  to  fall  and  to  rise  no  more  again  at  all.  Per- 
haps, our  allies  would  not  be  pleased  with  another  mode  of 
conduct ;  and  shall  we  run  the  hazard  of  displeasing  the  God 


[214] 

of*  all  our  salvation,  to  gratify,  in  sin,  the  friends  of  the  man 
of  sin  ?  If  the  crown  of  Corsica  cannot  be  worn,  but  upon 
the  condition  of  supporting  poper^^,  and  joining  in  councils 
with  the  Church  of  Rome,  to  advance  her  interest  there,  we 
are  afraid  the  weight  of  it,  like  a  millstone,  wdll  sink  us 
deep  in  the  gulf  of  God's  wrath.  But  popery  w^as  the 
former  religion  of  that  island,  and  the  people  wished  no 
change.  If  the  wretched  inhabitants,  loving  darkness  rather 
thanthe  light,  refused  to  be  reclaimed,  leave  them  to  them- 
selves, but  why  should  we  have  fellowship  with  them  in  their 
unfruitful  works  of  darkness.  The  presbytery  would  not 
wish  to  be  understood  as  if  they  meant  that  Protestants 
ought  to  raise  a  crusade,  in  order  to  exterminate  Catholics  in 
foi-eign  lands,  as  Catholics  have  attempted  to  do  against 
Protestants,  for  the  weapons  of  our  Avarfare  in  propagating 
religiou  are  not  carnal.  But  it  certainly  is  the  incumbent 
duty  of  all  Protestant  nations  to  abstain  from  anything,  that 
has  a  tendency  to  uphold  and  propagate  their  religion  ;  and 
as  no  positive  countenance  should  be  given  to  it,  so  it  is 
hi2:hly  proper  that  Catholics  should  be  kept  in  such  a  state 
of  ^restraint,  as  they  may  not  again  have  it  in  their  power  to 
repeat  those  bloody  scenes,  which  popery  had  acted  upon  us. 
With  a  view  to  deliver  themselves  from  the  guilt  of  partici- 
pating in  the  evil,  the  piresbytery  do  lift  up  a  judicial  testi- 
mony against  thepiresent  antichristian  courses  of  administra- 
tion ;  as,  also,  against  those  state  fasts,  proceeding  from  an 
Erastian  supremacy,  which  have  been  appointed  to  be  ob- 
served by  all  persons,  in  order  to  engage  by  prayer  the 
Almighty  to  crown  their  measures  with  success.  Likewise, 
the  presbytery  do  testify  against  the  national  church,  particu- 
larly her  ministers,  who  from  their  station  ought  to  act  as 
spiritual  watchmen,  and  give  pointed  warning  of  sin  and 
danger  on  the  present  occasion ;  but,  who,  instead  of  faith- 
fully discharging  this  duty,  sanction  all  these  measures  of 
government,  which  cannot  fail  to  produce  a  hardening  effect 
upon  the  generation. 

N.  B.  Since  writing  the  above,  by  a  reverse  in  the  war, 
Britain  has  lost  possession  of  Corsica,  but  while  this  does 
not  acquit  her  of  the  guilt  of  her  antichristian  administra- 
tion there,  neither  will  it  supersede  the  necessity  of  our  tes- 
timony against  it. 


[215  J 


SUPPLEMENT  TO  PART  IV. 

1.  Man  is  a  free  agent,  unconscious  of  restraint  in  his  vol- 
itions by  the  immutable  decree  of  God  ;  and  it  is  impossible 
for  him,  in  any  instance,  to  avoid  fulfilling  that  decree  ;  yet 
the  law  of  God — not  his  decree — is  the  rule  of  human  con- 
duct, and  the  standard  of  final  judgment.  Gen.  xx,  6  ;  1,  20; 
Acts  xxi,  14. 

2.  It  is  a  Christian's  duty  to  pray  for  the  church  of  Christ 
— to  inquire  diligently  into  her  scriptural  character,  and  seek 
covenant  blessings  in  her  communion.  Ps.  cxxii,  6-9  ;  Col. 
i,  9  ;  Heb.  xiii,  18,  20,  21. 

3.  When  a  majority  violate  the  scriptural  terms  upon 
which  church  members  were  united,  it  is  lawful  for  the  min- 
ority to  se[»arate,  testify  against  the  defection,  and  walk  by 
their  former  attainments.     Acts  ixx,  9  ;  Rev.  xviii,  4. 

4.  The  ''  Book  of  Psalms"  is  to  be  used  as  the  matter  of 
praise  to  God,  in  the  metrical  version  adopted  by  the  Church 
of  Scotland,  to  the  exclusion  of  all  substitutes  or  imitations. 

5.  No  Christian  can  bear  true  alleo:iance  to  Zion's  Kino^ 
and  Governor  among  the  nations,  and  at  the  same  time  take 
an  oath  of  allegiance  or  fidelity  to  the  government  of  the 
United  States,  or  any  other  immoral  government ;  hold  civil 
or  military  oflice  under  them  ;  enlist  to  wage  war  in  their  de- 
fence ;  exercise  the  elective  franchise ;  or  act  as  a  juror,  thereby 
incorporating  witii  the  national  societies  in  their  persistent 
rebellion  against  God  ;  or  use  language  appropriating  any  of 
their  institutions  ;  nor  can  a  Covenanter  practice  what  is 
commonly  called  "  occasional  hearing,"  or  join  in  union 
prayer  meetings,  without  contradicting  his  own  testimony. 

6.  Xor  can  a  Christian  lawfully  join  any  secret  oath-bound 
society  with  persons  of  diverse  religious  professions. 


[216] 

OF 

MINISTERIAL  AND  CimiSTIAN  COMMUNION 

TN    THE  ' 

REFORMED    I'RESBYTERIAN    CHURCH 


1.  An  acknowledgment  of  the  Old  and  New  Testament  to 
be  the  word  of  God,  and  the  alone  infallible  rule  of  faith  and 
practice. 

2.  That  the  whole  doctrine  of  the  Westminster  Confession 
of  Faith,  and  the  Catechisms,  Larger  and  Shorter,  are  agree- 
able unto,  and  founded  upon,  the  Scriptures. 

3.  That  Presbyterial  Church  Government  and  manner  of 
worship  are  alone  of  divine  right  and  unalterable  ;  and  that 
the  most  perfect  model  of  these  as  yet  attained,  is  exhibited 
in  the  Form  of  Government  and  Directory  for  Worship, 
adopted  by  the  Church  of  Scotland  in  the  Second  Reform- 
ation. 

4.  That  public,  social  covenanting.,  is  an  ordinance  of  God, 
obligatory  on  churches  and  nations  under  the  New  Test- 
ament ;  that  the  National  Covenant  and  the  Solemn  League 
are  an  exempliticaf.on  of  this  divine  institution  ;  and  that 
these  Deeds  are  of  continued  obligation  upon  the  moral  per- 
son ;  and  in  consistency  with  this — that  the  Renovation  of 
these  Covenants  at  Auchensaugh,  1712,  was  agreeable  to  the 
word  of  God. 

5.  An  approbation  of  the  faithful  contendings  of  the  mar- 
tyrs of  Jesus,  especially  in  Scotland,  against  Paganism, 
Ropery,  Prelacy,  Malignancy  and  Sectarianism  ;  immoral  civil 
governments ;  Erastian  tolerations  and  persecutions  which 
Sow  from  them  ;  and  of  the  Judicial  Testimony  emitted  by 
the  Reformed  Presbytery  in  North  Britain,  1761,  and  adopted 
by  this  church,  with  supplements  ;  as  containing  a  noble  ex- 
ample to  be  followed,  in  contending  for  all  divine  truth,  and 
in  testifying  against  all  corruptions  embodied  in  the  consti- 
tutions of  either  churches  or  states. 

6.  IVactically  adorning  the  doctrine  of  God  our  Savior, 
by  walking  in  all  his  commandments  and  ordinances  blame- 
lessly. 


[217] 
Queries  to  be  put  to  Candidates  for  Ordination. 

1.  Do  you  believe  the  Scriptures  of  the  Old  and  I^ew 
Testament  to  be  the  Word  of  God,  and  the  alone  infallible 
rule  of  faith  and  practice? 

2.  Do  you  own  the  whole  doctrine  of  the  Westminster 
Confession  of  Faith,  and  the  Catechisms,  Larger  and  Shorter, 
as  these  were  received  by  the  Church  of  Scotland? 

3.  Do  you  believe  that  the  Lord  Jesus  has  instituted  one 
unalterable  form  of  government  in  his  church,  distinct  from, 
and  independent  of,  civil  government ;  and  that  it  is  exclus- 
ively Presbyterial  ? 

4.  Do  you  own  the  perpetual  obligation  of  our  Covenants, 
National  and  Solemn  League  ? 

5.  Do  you  approve  the  faithful  contendings  of  the  confes- 
sors and  martyrs  of  Jesus,  especially  against  Popery  and 
Prelacy  ;  and  do  you  own  the  Judicial  Testimony  of  this 
church,  as  an  abstract  of  said  contendings  ? 

6.  Is  it  the  glory  of  God  and  the  edification  of  the  church, 
and  not  any  selfish  object,  that  move  you  to  undertake  this 
sacred  office? 

7.  Do  you  promise,  in  the  strength  of  divine  grace,  to  rule 
well  your  own  house — to  live  a  holy  life — to  watch  faithfully 
over  the  members  of  this  church — 'to  exhort  with  meekness 
and  long-suffering — 'to  visit  the  sick  and  the  afflicted  ;  and 
to  attend  punctually  the  meetings  of  the  church  courts,  when 
regularly  called  thereunto,  judging  faithfully  in  the  house  of 
God  ? 

8.  Do  you  promise  subjection,  in  the  Lord,  to  the  judica- 
tories of  this  church — to  adhere  to  the  doctrine  and  order 
which  this  church  has  solcmly  adopted ;  and  finally,  will 
you  receive  with  meekness  all  fraternal  counsel  and  admon- 
ition tendered  by  your  fellow  members  ? 


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